A ceremonial turnover of the FDIP-USC Collaborative Learning Center was held by Fluor Daniel Inc. Philippines (FDIP) at the Fr. Lawrence Bunzel Building, University of San Carlos on June 7, 2022. 

The program was graced by Vice President for Academic Affairs Fr. Jesuraj Anthoniappen, SVD, Vice President for Academic Affairs Atty. Joan S. Largo, and Angelo Cagatin, IT Service Delivery Manager at Fluor Daniel Inc. Philippines. 

According to Fr. Anthoniappen, the education ministry of mission will not be successful without the help of the University’s industry partners. He added that with the establishment of the collaborative learning center, it is certain that it will bear abundant fruit with the help of the industry, while benefiting both students and faculty.

The partnership between USC and FDIP for an academic-industry linkage started last 2019 through the signing of a memorandum of agreement. The collaboration focused on determining and implementing mutually acceptable initiatives for USC that will further elevate the skills of students, making them well prepared to join the engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, maintenance, and project management industries. 

Furthermore, USC and FDIP agreed to work together on the enhancement of engineering programs, conducting learning sessions, industry immersion for engineering faculty, student internship programs, and student scholarships.

The Assistant Dean of the School of Engineering, Dr. Marlowe Edgar C. Burce, explained that the purpose of the collaborative learning center is to provide a learning space where students could collaborate, particularly to conceptualize and brainstorm. 

Even though there are existing laboratory rooms and other facilities which can be used for such, most of these, however, are designed primarily for coursework and laboratory experimentations only. He also mentioned that the physical and technical design of the learning center was revised several times to provide the best collaborative space. Engr. Van B. Patiluna, one of the designers of the learning center, showcased the hardware devices and software applications installed in the facility.

Meanwhile, Abe Jun Clarito, Process Engineer at FDIP, thanked the University, that amid the global COVID-19 pandemic and the devastation caused by typhoon Odette in Cebu City, the project has pushed through unceasingly. 

“As we turnover the collaborative learning center, we hope that USC could sustain the stewardship and also be (made available) to the students so that they would be able to use this facility for more years to come,” he added.

He thanked the USC Administrators, for allowing them to join hands and build the partnership and to collaborate with the University.

Present during the event were representatives from the different departments of the School of Engineering. Meanwhile, blessing rites of the collaborative learning center was officiated by Fr. Michael P. Tangente, SVD, the Assistant Chaplain for USC Talamban Campus. 

“With everything that we have witnessed today in the ceremony, we cannot help but close with a very hopeful note. Because what we have here is not just the first of its kind, but also a paradigm shift, so to speak. It is really timely that we are having this, that an industry is no longer just outside looking in, but now a part of the work for the common good and that is really something all we could hope for,” Atty. Largo shared on her closing note. 

by Engr. Christopher James M. Labrador, School of Engineering