On July 30, 2024, PLDT and Smart Communications launched their Industry-Academe Co-Lab, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between education and industry by fostering collaboration among higher education institutions across the Philippines. The event brought together academic leaders, educators, and technology experts to explore ways of addressing the manpower and skills requirements of PLDT and Smart through curriculum alignment, digital upskilling, and faculty empowerment.
De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde was among the invited partner institutions, represented by members of the Analytics, Computing, and IT (ACI) Cluster — Ms. Jel Enriquez, Ms. Eunice Bilog, and Mr. Jacob Catayoc. The event host was Mr. Ronald Ramos, a Benilde Information Systems faculty member, highlighting Benilde’s active participation and recognition as a valued partner in the national digital education landscape.
The Co-Lab gathered participants from multiple universities, including Asia Pacific College, San Beda Alabang, FEU Institute of Technology, University of Santo Tomas, and Polytechnic University of the Philippines–Lopez, Quezon, among others. Discussions centered on empowering both faculty and students with PLDT and Smart’s digital tools and learning platforms, enabling institutions to produce graduates who are not only technically skilled but also industry-ready.
Benilde’s involvement in the PLDT & Smart Industry-Academe Co-Lab reinforces its dedication to meaningful industry partnerships and continuous innovation in education. By aligning academic outcomes with workforce needs, the College contributes to shaping a future-ready, digitally empowered Filipino workforce.
