The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) as part of their commitment to boost the country’s data science and analytics (DSA) ecosystem, the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) said on Friday, June 25.
DOST-PCIEERD Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Deputy Executive Director Engr. Niñaliza Escorial expressed hope that with the MOU signing virtually held on June 22, the graduates of the Smarter Philippines through Data Analytics, Research and Development, Training and Adoption (SPARTA) program from the TAU will contribute to the expansion of the country’s DSA ecosystem.
The signing of the MOU paved the way for the inclusion of TAU in the list of DAP-SPARTA’s institutional partners.
“We at DOST are optimistic that the 30,000 SPARTA graduates, which includes those from the Tarlac Agricultural University, will share their knowledge and expertise to teach more Filipinos in creating a bigger community of data science and analytics practitioners, and develop projects to provide solutions to help our LGUs and NGAs,” Escorial said in a statement.
She expressed the agency’s commitment to continue uplifting the country’s workforce and assisting the country’s development and growth by pouring in continued support for DSA projects.
DAP President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Engelbert Caronan Jr. and TAU President Dr. Max Guillermo signed the MOU on June 22.
I am extremely grateful to move forward by forging this new partnership with SPARTA’s 18th partner, the Tarlac Agricultural University. I believe that forming this linkage, we are on track towards our shared goal of establishing a vibrant data science and analytics ecosystem in the Philippines,” Caronan said.
Guillermo said TAU’s decision of “meaningful” partnership with DAP is their response to the changing education landscape.
“As an educational institution, TAU recognizes its responsibility to respond to these changes. Thus, it has always been our advocacy to forge meaningful partnerships with institutions like the Development Academy of the Philippines to make our institution become more relevant in the future, and hopefully to produce graduates that can be competitive... in the digital world,” he said in his message during the MOU signing ceremony.
Under the MOU, TAU’s participation is recognized in SPARTA’s implementation of DSA knowledge democratization and fostering of smart governance practice in the country.
Project SPARTA was officially launched on Feb. 24, 2020. It aims to establish the necessary online education, research and development mechanisms and infrastructure to enable the industry of data science and analytics and foster smart governance practices.
The DOST-PCIEERD, which is monitoring the program, is hopeful that by 2022, Project SPARTA aims to have successfully trained and graduated 30,000 learners and fostered a community of data science and analytics practitioners.
The project was made possible by the DOST, the DAP, the Analytics Association of the Philippines and Coursebank.