AdU ties up with Accenture; clinches grant for curriculum update, Industry X programs
Date Posted: August 26, 2021 at 05:11 PM
The University has partnered with business processing outsourcing giant Accenture through an agreement inked earlier this month, awarding AdU with a grant for its innovation and technopreneurship projects.
University President Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim, CM, and Vice President for Administrative Affairs and Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) Manager Dr. Venusmar Quevedo were present in the official turnover held online last August 24. Accenture Technology Lead for the Philippines, Africa and Asia Pacific Ms. Ambe Tierro also graced the event their firm hosted.
“This partnership with Accenture advances our effort to become an entrepreneurial University – a hub for relevant research and innovation [having] a vision to create products and services that solve societal and environmental problems,” Dr. Quevedo said.
Accenture’s Innovation Head Arvin Yason labelled AdU’s endeavors to be focused on emerging technologies and industries, a nod to the University’s continuous development of its technopreneurial and innovation agenda bannered by the Adamson University Neo-Science and Technology Incubation Center (AdUNEST - INC) and HEIRIT programs.
“[T]he grant from Accenture will provide financial assistance to more projects, thus, motivating our researchers to continue engaging in relevant and innovative pursuits… [W]e will persist to create and commercialize our IPs and engage in technology transfer that will benefit LGUs and industries nationwide,” Dr. Quevedo furthered, highlighting the institution’s roadmap of creating innovative solutions to reduce threats to life and the environment.
Beyond Innovation
Engr. Dylan Josh Lopez, Project Development Officer of HEIRIT, described AdU’s venture as something that aims to bridge the gap in the Philippine Social Technopreneurship community and develop an environment that fosters social innovation.
The grant includes a Social Impact Hackathon leveling to invite innovators as social catalysts and sources of inventive solutions to social issues through initiation of innovation, co-incubation, and incubation initiatives.
A Sustainability and Innovation Research drive will also be organized to generate innovation dedicated to sustainability of healthcare, environment, culture and heritage, finance, and technology among others.
The research drive further caters collaboration among the academe and industry, namely in the production of IP research publication and incubation and prototype production.
AdU is also extending its cause to advance the Higher Educational Institutions’ potential contributions in the nation’s long-term economic development and sustainable livelihood with its Institutional Sustainability Framework Development scheme.
Charity among others
Staying true to Vincentian charism, Adamson will also establish a Community Social Innovation and Modern Livelihood Program.
This initiative will create new normal outreach programs aiding communities, including nearby small businesses, through online lectures via podcasts and the digital media that would familiarize them with social innovation and modern entrepreneurship.
Funding from the Accenture grant will assist the University’s cause in reaching out to underdeveloped barangay community partners whose people were impacted by the mass job layoffs and business closures brought about by the pandemic, and revitalizing their industries through online media.
The partnership with Accenture is part of the BPO company’s efforts to accelerate technology innovation in the country, turning over P80-million worth of grants to Adamson and nine other academic institutions – Asian Institute of Management, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, Far Easter University - Institute of Technology, Miriam College, Technological Institute of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, and University of Santo Tomas.
