The Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program or SWEEP, the first and longest-running industry-academe linkage in the Philippines, is now on its 20th year, a demonstration of PLDT and Smart’s commitment to championing technology and innovation among young Filipinos.
SWEEP has become an avenue for long-term learning and discovery about technology as a catalyst for growth and development among the youth.
“When we launched SWEEP or the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program in 2003, our dream was to make bold changes in the industry, by promoting a culture of innovation in schools and by encouraging more Filipino students to get into STEM and ICT-related courses,” said Cathy Yap-Yang, FVP and head of Group Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart.
“We believe that continuous learning and exposure to emerging technologies, through SWEEP, can equip the youth toward finding innovative solutions that can help create positive impact for present and future generations,” added Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and head of Stakeholder Management Team at PLDT and Smart.
According to Roderick S. Santiago, head of Network at PLDT and Smart, “We continue to work closely with the country’s leading colleges and universities. We have likewise succeeded in producing industry-ready graduates to meet the increasingly digital demands of our customers, our communities and our country.”
To celebrate two decades of SWEEP, the PLDT Group recently concluded a learning and networking summit called SWEEP@20 for its partner schools, where the PLDT Group discussed how 5G, AI or artificial intelligence, XR or extended reality, cloud computing and advanced networks can help create a sustainable and more inclusive world for all Filipinos and leave no one behind.
Through the years, the PLDT Group has underscored the value of inclusive learning and industry-academe linkages like SWEEP, particularly in promoting STEM education in the country. This commitment also supports UN SDG #4: Quality Education and is aligned with the vision of the Philippine Government-mandated Private Sector Advisory Council.
As one of the founding members under the Digital Infrastructure pillar of PSAC, PLDT aims to help narrow the digital divide by creating more STEM experts and upskilling more Filipinos toward jobs of the future.