Private, state university partnership, seen to bolster education, workforce

By Provincial Media Relations Center
February 18, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla sees the partnership between state universities and Hitachi Global Storage technologies (Hitachi GST) not only as a booster to the country's education and workforce specifically in the field of engineering  but also as a way to address the  problem on job mismatch.

Gov. Petilla, who were among those who graced the turnover and launching of the EVSU-Hitachi Regional Laboratories Center at the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) here, said that for state universities to be able to address the need for graduates that are presently required by industries, new and better facilities for the required skills and course are to be in place.

The launching of the regional laboratories center also coincided with the weeklong celebration of EVSU’s 105th Founding Anniversary.

“This is such an opportunity for EVSU to equip their students and further strengthen their quality of education here“, Gov. Petilla said.

He otherwise lauded Hitachi officials led by Dr. Chandramogan Anamirtham, president and general manager of Hitachi GST Philippines Corp., for bringing this kind of partnership into the universities in the country.

Putting up of the Hitachi Laboratories Center is made possible through the company's Integrated University Program (IUP) which provides scholarships, research grants and sponsorships, laboratory donations and on-the-job training to both students and faculty members.

According to Dr. Anamirtham, the facility will bring new ideas to the students and their company is open to employ students or work with students and faculty with their research and he is quite impressed by the highly skilled workforce in the Philippines.

All of the computer operated machines set up at the newly-launched Hitachi EVSU Regional Laboratories Center are operational and in good condition.

Gov. Petilla on the hand urged EVSU to produce quality graduates, particularly in the engineering fields, to encourage companies such as Hitachi not only to employ graduates from around the region, but to set up and locate their facilities here.

“If we can work to produce the adequate number of skilled workers they need, maybe then the next step is to bring their company here instead and not just bring our graduates to work in their facilities in Laguna,” Gov. Petilla declared.