By Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon
“To be able to produce the best, you have to provide the best.”
With
this academic philosophy, the Information and Communications Technology
Academy (iAcademy) believes that the rising demand of competitive
professionals here and abroad makes it important to choose the right
school that provides world-class learning and character-building.
The
school also claims that companies today continuously innovate and set
new standards to achieve market leadership. However, iAcademy notes that
some schools that still stick to theories and books are unable to cope
with changes, thus, the result is a mismatch between the skills of
graduates and the needs of the industry.
The iAcademy, said to be the
only college on Ayala Avenue in Makati, is now offering IT, business
and arts courses for students who want to bring their talents to the
next level.
In an interview, Christian Timothy Sia, iAcademy division
head for Marketing and Admissions, said students never regret enrolling
in the school because of the quality of instruction they receive
there.
“Our school, which is 11 years old now, promises
excellent teaching. iAcademy has various programs fitted to the skills
of today’s youth. Every course has a 30:1 ratio, which is complemented
by state-of-the-art facilities and high-caliber teachers. The school
will provide them a world-class training that they can only find right
here in the country,” shared Sia.
The official stressed that one of the school’s advantages is its good location.
“Strategically
located at the center of the Makati Business District, iAcademy puts
its students in the environment of some of the leading businesses here
in the country. The school will let them mingle with industry
professionals and partners, who will train them, and eventually they
have the chance to get hired,” explained Sia.
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| A graphic artist draws using Wacom's pen and tablet |
He also discussed the
courses the school will be offering this coming school year such as
marketing and advertising, which focuses on the intricacies of creating
and managing marketing campaigns; software engineering, which deals with
the application of engineering concepts and methods in the development
and improvement of software systems; Web development, which prepares
students to design, implement and manage information systems;
multi-media arts and design, which explores an alternate approach to new
media as an educational platform; and game programming and design,
which integrates fundamental computer science with design and
storytelling and is considered as first of its kind in the country.
Other courses include financial management, fashion design and
technology, animation and e-management.
According to Sia, among these
courses animation is the most preferred by enrollees, citing the big
influence students got from the global animation industry.
“The
iAcademy is the first school that offers an animation course here in the
Philippines. Our students are fully trained from basic drawing to
digital animation, using the most innovative equipment for the better
result of their creation,” Sia said, adding that the school is also a
member of the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI).
Arts invasionTo
be able to attract more enrollees this year, the iAcademy, in
partnership with Wacom Singapore Pte Ltd. and in cooperation with the
Las Piñas Private Schools Association (LAPRISSA), successfully launched
the Wacom Art Attack at the SM Center Las Piñas last March 1.
The
event had the primary goal of introducing iAcademy as the best
educational institution to its main target audience — secondary level
students from different Las Piñas high schools.
Participated in by
about 100 students and officials of LAPRISSA, which consists of 65
private high schools-members, the Wacom Art Attack was conducted through
a series of activities, games, seminars and workshops.
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| Art Attack was participated by almost 65 Las Piñas high schools |
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| Students are given free workshop during the event |
The LAPRISSA
member high schools that joined the said event were Alphastar
Educational Centre Inc., Angelus Academy Inc., Augustinian Abbey School,
Bethany School, BF Homes School Inc., Blessed Scubillion Learning
Center, Blessed Trinity School, Bloomfield Academy, Brentvill
Southwoods School Inc. Camella School Inc., Child’s Joy Preschool and
Learning Center, Christ the King Academy, Church of God’s Miracle
Christian Academy, Copel School, Creative Middle School, Divine Light
School, Don Carlo Cavina School, Don Steven Institute, Elizabeth Seton
School Inc., Fr. Angelico Lipani School, Fr. Donato Gianotti Foundation
Inc., GCF South Metro Christian School Inc., Holy Infant Jesus Academy,
Holy Rosary Academy, Immaculate Mary Montessori School, Las Piñas
Baptist Academy, Las Piñas College, Las Piñas Montesorri School, Little
Ones Integrated School, Lord’s Christian Circle Education, Madre Guilla
Salzano School Inc., Magnificat School of Mary Inc., Mayflower Academy,
Merry Treasure School, Mind Builders Preschool, Montessori de Manila,
Mother Mary of Pilar Child Development Center, Neumann’s Academy Inc.
Our Lady of Loreto Catholic School, Our Lady of Pilar Montessori Center,
Schola de Vita, South Learners Creative School Inc., Step-up Learning
Center, St. Isidore Academy, St. Joe Development Academy, St. Mark’s
Institute Inc. (Annex and Main), St. Michael School Inc., St. Rose of
Lima School Inc., St. Therese School, Sto. Niño de Eucharistia Academy,
Sunshine Learning Center, University of Perpetual Help System Dalta,
Westfield Science Oriented School, Wishbone Kiddie Camp, Yahweh’s Love
Learning Center and Young Achievers International School.
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| KC Leong, Wacom sales manager, and Julious Rivera Wacom, marketing manager |
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| iACADEMY's Jean and Jem |
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| Marty Tengco plays PS game inside the iACADEMY's "Game Van" |
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Rowena Lorenzo, president, LAPRISSA, and Chris Sia, iAcademy division
| head for Marketing and Admissions, lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony |
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| | |
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| From left: Rowena Lorenzo, president, LAPRISSA, Christian Timothy Sia, division head, Marketing and
Admissions, iACADEMY, KC Leong, sales manager, DCC, Con, Wacom, with LAPRISSA officials Carol Tirona, Ed Yorro, Claire Garcia, Roxy Ado, Nelson Uy, Oscar
Tangco |
This
gathering held a mini career orientation about the courses one can take
to hone one’s skills and the possible jobs one can have after completing
the chosen course.
Participants learned a lot from various
workshops conducted by experts, some of them teaching at the iAcademy.
Attendees were taught how to draw using modernized Wacom tablets and pen
in an animation workshop, while others walked the isle in a fashion
design workshop.
Students also challenged their mental prowess
through the question-and-answer portion, where they won exciting prizes
from Wacom.
Sia bared that one of the amenities student may
experience at the iAcademy is its Game Van, equipped with Wacom’s
interactive and customized gaming console. He said students will surely
enjoy this mobile van with a state-of-the-art setting complete with
lights, sound and air-conditioning.
Sealed partnershipThe
school official believed that one of the reasons iAcademy has been
successful all these years is because of its strong ties with the
Japanese company Wacom, which provides up-to-date equipment and
technical services to the school.
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| Team iACADEMY and Team Wacom |
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| Kooky Tuason, KC Leong and Marty Tengco |
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| The author conducts an interview with KC Leong |
“They (Wacom officials) said, ‘Let
us look for a partner in the Philippines.’ So it just so happened
iAcademy launched its BS Animation program. They saw our vision for the
Filipinos. Then we sealed our partnership in 2008,” recalled Sia.
Wacom,
which was founded on July 12, 1983 and has its headquarters in Otone,
Saitama, Japan, is a giant IT company that produces graphics tablets and
related products.
KC Leong, sales manager of Wacom, underscored the
solid partnership of iAcademy and his company, while highlighting that
both have the same motivation.
“Four years ago, Wacom was searching
for a very strong education partner, which would champion Wacom in the
education industry and showcase Wacom products in customer relations.
We both share a lot of foresight, a lot of future plans together. And I
thought maybe we should marry up. When you marry up together, you get
stronger,” he shared.
The executive further stated, “iAcademy wanted
the best equipment in the schools so that students who enroll will have
the best benefit outright... You’ve got to have a good curriculum, good
equipment, a good set of teachers and a good atmosphere and learning
environment. We share the same vision when we appointed iAcademy as a
Wacom-authorized training partner in 2008.”
Leong averred that the
tie-up of the two is a perfect combination that will give students the
highest chance of getting a job after they finish studying. “If you
are trained by Wacom in this school, after you graduate, you move to the
society to look job. You have the better chance to secure a job.
Because most of the students in this industry use Wacom, meaning to say
they (employers) know that you have your skills out and have a proper
training from this school,” he expressed. The Wacom sales manager
concluded that Art Attack had good results. “The event was a lot of fun.
There were interaction and exchanges. Everyone enjoyed and participated
well in this educational activity. The great thing about this event is
students are learning while having fun at the same time,” Leong ended.
--Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon
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| The article on The Daily Tribune's Lifestyle cover |
