The Department of Information and Computer Studies (ICS) is presently under the process of breaking away from the shadows of the faculty they’ve been part of for almost eight years: the Faculty of Engineering.
ICS Head Engr. Alex Santos said they are currently conducting a feasibility study regarding the department’s possible separation and is due to give a recommendation on January 2013.
“The feasibility study will justify the need for separation, that’s the status as of now,” Santos said in an interview.
He also said that Prof. Clarita Carillo, Ph.D., the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Research, appointed a committee to look into this matter.
The planned separation is due to the strong demand of Information Technology (IT) professionals and the growing need for these computer professionals through the years.
“We want to secure our place in the provisions of more responsive IT professionals,” the ICS head said.
Common mismatch between the needed skill set provided by training institutions and the skill set that the companies really need is the main problem that ICS wants to focus on.
“In UST, we want to bridge that gap, we want to produce graduates who are really responsive with the needs of our society,” he explained.
He also said they want to produce graduates that are not only technically skilled but also morally developed because they believe that there is a company responsibility behind the skills they are developing.
Students and faculty members were also informed about their possible separation and they are, by far, taking it positively and are welcoming the new development.
The decision based on the results of the feasibility study will be finalized on January as well. The implementation of the planned separation, as the committee initially discussed, will be on June of the academic year 2013-2014.
Furthermore, the committee is still looking into the name of the new College to be formed.
By Charry Fatima D. Garcia
Photo taken by Paulo Angelo G. Juan
