How BPO and KPO Industries will Benefit from the Integrated University Program
Knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) is an up-and-coming industry spawned from business process outsourcing (BPO), which involves outsourcing the organizational processes that do not require serious decision making or does not involve the company’s core competencies. Knowledge process outsourcing, on the other hand, is a higher level of BPO that requires the skill set of specialized professionals such as engineers, nurses and architects for high-value services. As early as now, the Philippines is already gearing for a more productive, more competitive 2010 in which the Filipino workforce can show off its world-class performance in outsourcing. Recently, a multinational company launched a program addressing the nation’s needs for a higher level of BPO and KPO awareness among the young aspiring professionals. Geared towards progressing the Philippines’ quality of education and molding the youth to take part of the BPO/KPO revolution, the program involves the integration of a world-class engineering and technology company and a number of local schools—the starting point in which one dreams of eventually making it big in the professional setting.
Computer storage products manufacturer Hitachi GST launched a program that has the potential to benefit the Philippines’ business process outsourcing (BPO) and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) industries. Called the Integrated University Program (IUP), the program aims to bolster the country’s standard of education and workforce mainly in the field of engineering. Consequently, the competence of the Filipinos in the engineering field will increase to further promote the country’s knowledge process outsourcing and business process outsourcing industries through Hitachi’s project.
Hitachi’s Integrated University Program provides scholarships, research grants, laboratory equipment and on-the-job training for students and faculty alike. The program that began in 2008 focused solely on Manila until the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Hitachi GST agreed to set up satellite laboratory centers nationwide. Since then, Hitachi has allied itself with Cebu Technological University, Eastern Visayas State University, Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology and Central Mindanao University – universities that are strategically located in Mindanao and Visayas which means that other schools in the area can take advantage of these universities’ lab facilities. Moreover – or more importantly – having schools in Mindanao and Visayas host the IUP will also have a positive impact in these areas’ BPO and knowledge process outsourcing industries.
Hitachi’s Integrated University Program is an example that can pave the way for the concept of a BPO or KPO university where students can learn the ropes of the business and knowledge process outsourcing industries from working with companies like Hitachi. The IUP will enable young minds to hone skills in the global outsourcing arena. The supposed stigma from working for a BPO firm can at last be shed as business and knowledge process outsourcing workers become more adept in what they do, thereby making this chosen field a more specialized one. Working in a specialized field almost always inspires pride in people.
Hitachi GST intends to maintain the seven regional laboratories to ensure sustainability. Cebu Technological University (CTU) has the first fully operational robotics lab among the seven regional labs. The CTU-Hitachi Robotics Metrology Laboratory was opened a week ago, and is expected to be one of the premier robotic labs in Asia. The firm is not expected to draw money out of the partnership. Its goal is to broaden the knowledge of students and instructors who may be absorbed by the Hitachi Group in the future and increase these students’ and professionals’ competencies in the engineering field.
Dr. Tuan Tran, VP for worldwide head operations of Hitachi GST, said the regional satellite laboratories will mean education not just for those interested in becoming part of the business and knowledge process outsourcing industries but also for everyone who strives to learn. “Hitachi is impressed by the highly skilled workforce in the Philippines. Through the IUP, we are helping develop the tremendous potentials of these future scientists and engineers,” Tran stated in a press release.
Those who are able to attend these schools are assured that they will have enough knowledge and skills should they choose to enter the business process outsourcing (BPO) and knowledge process (KPO) outsourcing industries. With this project, the benchmark for business and knowledge process outsourcing will be greatly elevated, making them truly the industries of the new frontier.
