Xinyx Unlocked: Ensuring the Future of Engineering

Manila, Philippines – In an exciting effort to convene the brilliant young minds of the 21^st century and emphasize the pivotal role of IC design in the Philippines, Xinyx Design sponsored “Xinyx Unlocked 2023”, a nationwide sandbox competition for engineering students studying microelectronics.

“Xinyx Unlocked is our way to promote IC Design as a promising, innovative and fast-growing career path that our next generation of graduates need to be aware of. Filipino engineers are world-class and always in demand. We need to elevate the field of engineering and develop design thinking in our students so that we can compete in the regional and global market.,” says Charade Avondo, Xinyx Design President and General Manager.

 

The following teams and their respective entries are the big winners of the Xynix Unlocked 2023 nationwide contest:

 

Grand Prize - First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities [FAITH]

• Contest Entry: “GESTULEARN: HAND TRACKING AND GESTURE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY FOR ASSISTIVE TEACHING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION”
• Engr. Adonis S. Santos, Mentor
• Ivan Renz T. Eser, Lead
• Vianca Dhenise D. Vergara, Member 1
• Jafeth C. Estocado, Member 2

 

1^st Runner Up – Mindanao State University – General Santos [MSU-GENSAN]

• Contest Entry: “FPGA-BASED NEAR-INFRARED GLUCOMETER WITH APP INTEGRATION”
• Cristina P. Dadula, Mentor
• Dr. Ryan Banal, Mentor
• Laurenz Clyde A. Garcia, Lead
• Kenneth Arnyl F. Diaz, Member 1
• Kimbian S. Lim, Member 2

 

2^nd Runner Up - Caraga State University [CSU]

• Contest Entry – “DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MONITORING SYSTEM FOR FLOATING SOLAR PLATFORM”
• Engr. Jeffrey T. Dellosa, Mentor
• Ricky Pie Resonable, Lead    
• Harvey L. Ablagador, Member 1
• Jesryniel Plaza, Member 2
• Jocelyn Llorente, Member 3

 

Winners were awarded: Grand Prize - P 70,000; 1^st Runner-Up - P 20,000; 2^nd Runner-Up - P 10,000.  The winning team receives a monthly stipend of P10,000 for two academic years.

 

Launched with the theme “From Problems to Possibilities: Building Tomorrow’s Cities Today” this inaugural competition underscores the necessity for inventive solutions in urban development anchored on Microelectronics. Through this, Xinyx also aims to spark the interest of the younger generation in this crucial industry and encourage them to maximize their talents for economic and social development.

 

According to Statista, revenue in the Integrated Circuits market is projected to reach US$5.35bn in 2023 with a projected annual growth rate (CAGR 2023-2027) of 11.50%, resulting in a market volume of US$8.27bn by 2027^[1]. However, the Semiconductor Industry Association in Washington released a study revealing that the United States faces a significant shortfall of 70,000 technicians, computer scientists, and engineers in the semiconductor industry by 2030^[2].

 

A total of 58 entries were received from state colleges and universities nationwide.

 

Luzon:

• First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (Finalist)
• Cavite State University - CCAT Campus (Finalist)
• University of Batangas
• Batangas State University - The National Engineering University Alangilan Campus (Finalist)
• Colegio de Muntinlupa (Finalist)

 

Visayas

• Technological University of the Philippines - Visayas

 

Mindanao

• Caraga State University (Finalist)
• Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (Finalist)
• Mindanao State University - Main (Marawi) (Finalist)
• Mindanao State University - General Santos (Finalist)
• Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan
• University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines

PLDT, Smart Vow to Continue Transforming Lives with SWEEP

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart celebrated its 20th year promoting technology and innovation with the Philippines’ colleges and universities with the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP).

“We recognize how conscious today’s youth are of the world they live in. They want to have a hand in shaping their own future and that of the world’s. We hope to help them reach these goals through SWEEP,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management Team at PLDT and Smart.

By promoting a culture of innovation among schools and universities and encouraging more Filipino students to get into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math or STEM and ICT-related courses, SWEEP also aims to bring long-lasting impact to communities through technology.

SWEEP also paved the way for Innovation Generation (InnoGen), an innovation grant program for tech-savvy college and senior high school students who strive to become digital changemakers.

Team SenOptica from Talavera Senior High School in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, one of the winners from InnoGen’s latest season, shared how present and emerging technologies led them to develop their product, a wearable sensor-based assistive device for people with visual impairment.

"Their stories became the driving force behind our human-centric approach to innovation, emphasizing the importance of empathy in our work. It was in these moments that we realized that innovation is not just about technology; it's about understanding the needs of the people we aim to serve,” said 18-year-old Angel Hannah Rayo, SenOptica Developer.

“PLDT and Smart helped us transform our idea into a real-world solution that could truly make a difference in people's lives, especially for people with visual impairment,” she added.

22-year-old Prince Ramirez of Wesleyan University Philippines also shared how PLDT, and Smart enabled them to develop TARALIBOT to bring long-lasting impact.

“TARALIBOT aims to empower local and indigenous merchants, who often lack marketing resources, by giving them an online platform and helping them reach a larger audience to bridge this gap. We hope to bring change where local business are given equal opportunities to thrive in the digital economy,” said Prince.

Through the years, the PLDT Group has underscored the value of inclusive learning and industry-academe linkages like SWEEP, particularly to promote STEM education in the country. This commitment also supports UNSDG #4: Quality Education and is aligned with the vision of the Philippine Government-mandated Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC). 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.

PLDT, Smart Mark 20th Year with SWEEP, Inspiring Youth on Tech and Innovation

PLDT and Smart forge ahead in guiding youth towards the future of technology and innovation. 

Demonstrating its commitment towards academic and professional excellence, 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. 

 

“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. 

 

SWEEP has become an avenue for long-term learning and discovery about technology as a catalyst for growth and development among the youth. 

 

“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,” said Roderick S. Santiago, Head of Network at PLDT and Smart. 

  

SWEEP has become an avenue for long-term learning and discovery about technology as a catalyst for growth and development among the youth. 

   

“We believe that continuous learning and exposure to emerging technologies, through SWEEP, can equip the youth towards finding innovative solutions that can help create positive impact for present and future generations,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management Team at PLDT and Smart.   

  

To officially celebrate SWEEP’s two decades and the program’s milestones, the PLDT Group has just concluded a learning and networking summit called SWEEP@20 and beyond, for its partner schools this month.    

  

Providing a peek into the future, the PLDT Group has discussed more about 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 to promote STEM education in the country. This commitment also supports UNSDG #4: Quality Education and is aligned with the vision of the Philippine Government-mandated Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC). 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. 

PLDT, Smart, University of Baguio Join Hands to Promote Innovation and Engineering Excellence

PLDT and its wireless unit, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) recently joined the University of Baguio (UB) during its Annual Tripartite Collaboration to further enhance the existing curriculum of programs in the College of Engineering.

“Under our Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program or SWEEP, the country's first and longest-running industry-academe linkage program, we continue to promote and culture of innovation and excelling by extending learning opportunities to students and faculty,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management Team at PLDT and Smart.

This initiative brought together partners from the academe and the private sector, specifically those in the technology industry, and aimed to align the current engineering program with the latest technological trends, and to strengthen the linkage between the academe and the industry.

“We acknowledge the contribution of the industry reaching out to and partnering with the academe. Under this collaboration, we have extended our expertise in the field of wireless telecommunications and technologies, which aim to add value to what UB currently has,” said Hope Mamucud, Senior Core Network Supervisor at PLDT and Smart.

“We currently offer a Technopreneurship subject in the School of Engineering and Architecture that requires our students to create prototypes and explore innovations. We also have Robotics incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in our curriculum. With PLDT and Smart extending their technical expertise, we can further improve these subjects under this partnership,” said Engr. Annalyn D. Soria, MACT, UB Faculty.

“I chose to take Electronics Engineering so I could learn more about the current and upcoming trends in technology. I also believe through technology and innovation, I can contribute to addressing the waste management challenges in our community,” said 24-year-old John Reynald Garcia, a UB Electronics Engineering student.

“Trainings extended under SWEEP can help us gain knowledge in technology and enables us to become familiar with advanced innovation and equipment available. This can eventually add value to our academic and professional development,” John added.

Since 2003, PLDT and Smart have being supporting colleges and universities all over the Philippines through SWEEP. The program underscores the PLDT Group's commitment to innovation and digital inclusion, and supports the government's key digitalization efforts, by fostering industry-academe linkage. The PLDT Group is a founding member of the Digital Infrastructure pillar of the presidential Private Sector Advisory Council or PSAC.

Digital Technology in Building Infrastructure

Hans T. Sy, chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., delivered the keynote speech at the 44th National Convention and Technical Conference of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), held recently at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. With this year’s theme: “Integrating Advanced and Digital Technology in Building Infrastructure”, Sy talked about the benefits of advancing technology in construction, as well as SM’s Disaster Resiliency efforts. He also highlighted the importance of Disaster Risk Resilience and the role of engineers as critical players in nation building. More than 15,000 civil engineer members of PICE attended the event.

PAAL Congress: Getting Filipinos Ready to Meet Job Demands in Growing Auto Industry

The local economy may be going through a few rough patches but there are bright spots on the horizon.  For one, the Philippine automotive industry is slowly yet steadily growing, currently producing 400,000 cars yearly versus 100,000 a decade ago.  Annual car sales in the country are also projected to reach one million units by 2028.  The increasing demand means the industry will make more cars, requiring more quality engineers, technicians, specialists, and other professionals within the decade.

With the Philippine automotive sector becoming an employment hotspot, companies are partnering with the public sector to raise awareness about the different opportunities that jobhunters and educational institutions can maximize.  Last September 28, the Philippine Auto Industry-Academia Linkage (PAAL) Congress was conducted by a coalition of four organizations – JobStreet Philippines, Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments (DTI-BOI), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP).  The first-of-its-kind the country, the event connected schools and training centers with automotive companies, bolstering collaboration and cooperation towards future projects and programs that can benefit more students, jobseekers, and businesses.

Preparing to meet higher demand

The coalition estimates that by 2028, direct employment in the industry will grow by 700,000 to 1.17 million more jobs.  Indirect employment will also increase, with many new jobs expected to open in the production of car parts and materials, automotive sales and maintenance, transport and storage, and petroleum stations.  For these prospects to be optimized, the industry needs to address the limited knowledge and on-the-job training opportunities in the different companies, processes, and technical skills involved in the car production chain; human resources’ difficulties in fielding and finding candidates with suitable educational background; and the need for schools and training centers to connect to a bigger and more beneficial network of partners.

The PAAL Congress thus brought together students, teachers, trainers, employers, engineers, and executives in a series of learning and networking sessions.  It aimed to help participants better understand the industry as a whole – its different players, demands, and standards; realize the career potential and different opportunities opening up in the automotive sector; and enable car companies to offer more input in schools’ curricula, thereby developing the right employee candidates in the near future.

The different talks by field experts offered an overview of the local industry, sharing its realities, trends, potentials, job market needs, and future goals.  Participants also heard from practitioners in a panel discussion and asked questions in a fruitful Q&A.  Later in the day was the career and product exhibition that showcased the various companies in the automotive supply chain and the different job options.  Resumes were also submitted and same-day interviews were held.

“There are more than 100 companies in the industry’s supply chain.  With the expected growth in the sector, there’s going to be a lot of recruitment activity within the near future.  Through the congress, the partnership has opened bigger doors for dialogue and cooperation, which in turn will provide the sector with valuable information and insights that can multiply opportunities further.  We at JobStreet Philippines have been learning so much through this partnership, and we consider it a pleasure to be able to use this knowledge to make the best-fitting matches between even more employers and thousands of Filipino jobseekers.  This partnership has empowered all of us here to create and seek even more growth prospects for more people,” says Philip Gioca, Country Manager of JobStreet Philippines.

More plans in the future

As a post-event service and to ensure the long-range impact of the event, feedback will be collected.  Among the success indicators are the number and quality of industry-academia partnerships that were formed, job applications facilitated, increased interest and engagement in auto industry careers, and regular communication among the participants who connected with each other. Summaries of the speeches and discussions, tips and other learnings will also be shared online to reach more people.

Gioca adds: “It’s key to monitor the effect of this first congress to help us create better and more effective career and learning experiences in the future. There is unlimited potential in the technology-based skills and working attitude of Filipinos and we will keep supporting them through diverse programs. We have many more partnerships and activities planned.”

Over 50 educational and training institutions, 40 companies, and 800 individuals joined the congress, which is also part of the Elaboration of Industrial Promotion Plans using Value Chain Analysis project. The two-year pilot project operated by JICA and DTI promotes the automotive industry through the development and implementation of concrete policies and plans.

For more information about JobStreet Philippines programs and events, visit www.jobstreet.com.ph.