IBM presented the NetVista All-in-One computer to DOST scholar and the only summa cum laude of batch 2004 Jermie Artuz. Also in the photo [L-R] are Dr. SEI Director Ester B. Ogena, IBM Philippines President Joaquin Quintos IV, and DOST Undersecretary Fortunato Dela Peña.

IBM chief says ICT is on recovery swing

By Ged Bulaon
MediaCore, STII

Many college-bound kids are advised to take up nursing or medical-related courses in college to land dollar-paying jobs following booming demand in Western societies. 

But IBM president and general manager Joaquin E. Quintos IV advises “the young and restless' – don't jump to nursing yet, because you may just miss the IT express train when it starts moving again.”

Quintos believes that the IT industry has a lot to offer in terms of jobs for Filipino graduates.  Global outsourcing, which attracted top global ICT and services firms to avail of the country's English proficient and flexible workforce shows there might not be much need to work overseas.

In a recent gathering of Department of Science and Technology scholar-graduates, Quintos underlined common misconceptions about the IT industry.  IT as an industry is not dead. In fact, it is still considered one of the fastest growing industries in the world, he said.

In the last 50 years, the IT industry's growth worldwide was twice the worldwide GDP growth rate every year—except in the period between 1996 and 2000, the “dotcom bubble” period that saw the “double double” growth scenario.  During the five-year span, the IT industry growth rate jumped four times compared to GDP growth rate. This growth may be huge, but was not normal.

The good news is that the industry is back on normal track once again at twice the GDP growth rate.  What this means is that IT is a sustainable high growth industry that will bring tremendo us opportunities for business, job and career development.

Quintos also debunked the myth that only the programmers are considered IT literate.  “What is important today is not knowing the technology per se, although this is still critical for those that are in pure IT profession, say, software developer or a microchip designer, but rather knowing how to apply or use that technology.”

He noted that “It doesn't matter where you start, whether you are a BS computer graduate or business management graduate or whatever.  You have multiple options, from pursuing a pure IT career path, which is also constantly evolving, to a career choice that can be in any field.”

 Call centers that sprout like mushrooms in the country are a case in point.  Call centers are examples of business process outsourcing (BPO) of the sales and marketing support functions.

To be an effective call center representative, one does not have to know how to program or know the difference between a bit and a byte.  But it is necessary that one knows how to use the computer to obtain the needed information required, Quintos said.

Another misconception, Quintos says, is the misguided notion that a graduate of ICT training program or school is guaranteed an employment.  “Most of this is marketing hype”.

“In this age of information, by the time you graduate, what you have learned is most likely not sufficient and probably already obsolete.”  He added that “whatever the university teaches you only gets you to the starting line. There is more that needs to be done beyond. Ultimately, it's all about skills, skills, skills.”

Quintos urged the scholar graduates to send resumes to IBM company for evaluation.  They would welcome the bright minds for the company's expansion.  IBM also gave Jermie Artuz, a summa cum laude, with an IBM NetVista All-in-One computer.

 There are 220 of the 1,777 scholars who graduated with honors, including one summa cum laude, 18 magna cum laude, 111 cum laude and others who earned recognition for finishing their courses ahead of time. 

The DOST, through the Science Education Institute implements several S&T scholarship programs in undergraduate and graduate levels to address the country's need for scientists and other S&T workers.

Top graduates are honored for their efforts to achieve academic excellence and to entice them to contribute to S&T development, specifically in research and development, production, S&T education and other services.