Providing Basic Computer Education to the Filipino Youth - Personal Statement Example

CIDA FUTION ROOMS: PROVIDING BASIC COMPUTER EDUCATION TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH I. List of Acronyms Used in the Paper DLS – CSB – De La Salle University College of Saint Benilde SDA – School of Design and Arts CDA – Canadian International Development Agency EVP – Executive Vice President II. Executive Summary What does the learning environment of the future look like? This project seeks to establish a CIDA Future Education or FUTION room – a concept classroom-showroom featuring the the most innovative computer products as applied to education. The CIDA FUTION room will be housed in the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts (SDA) Building, a 14-story structure on P. Ocampo Street in Malate, Manila, occupying 50,000 square meters of space. The SDA Building promises to be a major landmark in Manila once completed in 2006. Fifty percent (50%) of project grant value is to be provided in the form of CIDA products. Up to fifty percent (50%) of the project grant will be allocated for other equipment or software purchases, as well as facility improvements. The Board of Trustees, having acknowledged the increasing cost of maintaining specialized facilities and of financing other commitments, has mandated DLS-CSB to explore partnerships with equipment/facility providers and seek the assistance of philanthropic individuals and education/social development oriented foundations. A. Particulars of Organisation Name of Organisation De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Date of Formation/ Registration: April 20, 1988 Registration Number: 1RC0000149355 Organization Type (registered charity, NGO, Educational Institute): Other Private Education Services Address 2544 Taft Avenue, Manila, Philippines Tel No: 526-7441 loc 240/242 Fax No: 521-1740 Website: http://www.dls-csb.edu.ph Email: agujoa@dls-csb.edu.ph B. Nature of Project Project Name: Establishment of CIDA Fusion Rooms Original Start Date (if applicable as ongoing project): Proposed funding project/phase start date: December, 2005 Proposed funding project/phase completion date: May, 2006 Grant amount requested: Up to PhP3,000,000 Total estimated project budget: Up to PhP3,000,000 Grant as % of estimated budget: 100% Project Location (City, Country): Manila, NCR, Philippines III. Background De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (CSB) offers relevant and innovative degree and non-degree programs structured to meet the Christian community’s demands for personal and professional development in the Arts, Management, Business Administration and Design. The College strives for excellence through educational innovation and Christian value formation, recognizing individual talents and personal learning patterns. A member institution of De La Salle University System, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde started as the College for Career Development of De La Salle University in 1980. It was renamed Community College in 1988. Because of the need to expand, the College moved to its present location at 2544 Taft Avenue, Manila in January 1989. In April 1994, DLS-CSB became an autonomous College. DLS-CSB is part of the DLSU System. It all started with De La Salle University-Manila’s provision of resources and expertise to establish the following schools as separate institutions, which eventually formed the De La Salle University System: De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (1978), the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas (1987), the De La Salle-Health Sciences Campus (1987), the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (1988), De La Salle-Professional Schools, Inc. (1996), and just recently, De La Salle University-Araneta (2002). Today, the De La Salle University System is an internationally recognized Catholic institution affiliated with the worldwide network of Lasallian communities. Its component units manifest synergy of roles and resources, and serve as dynamic partners of Church and Nation in the process of social transformation. Guided by the gospel values, the charism of St. John Baptist de La Salle, and the traditions of the Religio, Mores and Cultura, the System forms Christian Achievers for God and Country, and nurtures a community that contributes to the building of a just and humane society through excellence in education, research and community service. IV. Project Concept This project entails the conceptualization of a CIDA FUture of EducaTION (FUTION) Room. The project is intended to create a “live” showroom-classroom of innovative computer technology, as applied to education. About 2,400 students are expected to make use of the FUTION room every year. Fifty percent (50%) of CIDA’s grant will include the most innovative computer equipment, and up to fifty percent (50%) will be spent on facility improvements. Every summer break, for the next five (5) years, DLS-CSB will celebrate CIDA Cyber Summer, computer training sessions for forty (40) public school personnel and forty (40) private school personnel for about 2-3 days. This will further generate interest and goodwill for CIDA’s support in this project. CIDA may also choose to further tie-up the FUTION project with its other outreach and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. A. Project objectives Provide a computer learning facility by collaborating on the creation of a “future education” concept classroom-showroom. B. Target group (age, education level): The project is expected to benefit: Approximately 2,400 college students per year, (assuming 40 students per session) Approximately 40 private high school principals Approximately 40 private college Presidents, Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs) C. How many users will directly benefit from the project? Approximately 2,400 college students per year, (assuming 40 students per session) D. Risks – One of the major risks involved in the project is the necessity of the project implementors. While the conceptualization for the project may be sound, it is necessary that those who conceptualized it be present all throughout implementation to ensure successful program implementation. So mitigate such a risk, the proponents will ensure high involvement from participants and multiplicity of roles so that in the event that these key people leave, the program may still be sustained. E. Budget – This is a new project. No financial resources have been allocated on this project in the past. The details on the amounts requested, received and committed are found in Appendix 1. F. Communication Plan – DLS-CSB has a Marketing and Communication Office which publishes its own Collateral. In addition, the DLSU System has its annual report in which System schools communicates such linkages and projects to the various stakeholders of the DLSU system. La Salle Brothers from can be made available to speak to the media. DLS-CSB will be more than willing to work with CIDA to develop co-branded case studies for advertising and media programs. G. Project Implementation Schedule Activity Description Start date Completion date Conceptualize FUTION Room DLS-CSB FUTION Room Design Committee will conceptualize FUTION Room Design November 2005 December 2005 Finalize FUTION Room design DLS-CSB FUTION Room Design Committee will finalize FUTION Room Design for approval by the DLS-CSB Board of Trustees (BOT) December 2005 December 2005 Itemize Equipment Requirements DLS-CSB Academic and Communications Technologies Center will itemize equipment requirements for submission to CIDA January 2006 January 2006 Itemize Room Improvements DLS-CSB Academic and Communications Technologies Center will itemize other equipment requirements for purchase; DLS-CSB General Administrative Services will itemize room improvement requirements January 2006 January 2006 Finalize Room Improvements DLS-CSB General Administrative Services will manage room improvements to completion February 2006 February 2006 Procure ALL Equipment Equipment installed March 2006 March 2006 Conduct CIDA FUTION Room Launch CIDA FUTION Room is launched and inaugurated May 2006 May 2006 Conduct Computer Training for Principals Computer Training for Public and Private School Principals are conducted May 2006 May 2006 Conduct classes in FUTION Room Classes start June 2006 June 2006 Submit Final Report to CIDA Submit Final Report to CIDA Start of Aug 2006 End of Aug 2006 V. Proponents The proponents consist of ________________, who is a student of _____________. This proposal has been drafted in coordinattion with the Board of Trustees of CSB, including five (5) La Salle Brothers, one (1) Jesuit, and six (6) lay people. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is Br. Edmundo Fernandez, FSC. The Trustees are: Br. Michael Valenzuela, FSC; Br. Manuel Pajarillo, FSC; Br. Dennis Magbanua, FSC; Br. Armin A. Luistro, FSC (President, De La Salle University System); Fr. Johnny Go, SJ; Mr. Michael Gamo (Treasurer); Mr. Eugenio Gonzalez; Ms. Mina Gabor; Atty. Sinforoso Pagunsan (Corporate Secretary); Dr. Rose Marie S. Clemena (Executive Vice President). The Executive Vice President, Dr. Rose Marie S. Clemena, is ably assisted by Dr. Rizaldi Nocon (Vice President for Academics); Ma. Victoria M. Dayao (Assistant Vice President, Learning and Information Systems and Services); Ma. Luisa C. Valdez (Assistant Vice President, General Administrative Services) as well as several School Deans and Center Directors. The contact person who has a direct hand at project conceptualization and design is ___________(your name) and Angelo Anthony Agujo. The latter has Project Management and computer training expertise from his 12 years of experience as Director of On-line Learning at the College. VI. CIDA Development Priorities DLS-CSB anticipates tremendous interest and goodwill from the academic community as well as other training organizations. Specifically, the classroom-showroom is a win-win partnership between DLS-CSB and CIDA. Results for evaluating success may include feedback from visitors, teachers, students, and guests. This will effectively promote basic computer education in the Philippines, an area which holds much promise but is not fully optimized because of lack of resources. VII. Concluding Remarks The CIDA Fusion Rooms project will provide hope for the Filipino youth by according them with the resources necessary for securing a globally competitive computer education. Ultimately, the end goal is to provide better futures for these youths, and for the Philippines as a newly industrializing country. VIII. Bibliography Canadian International Development Agency. “Your guide to working with CIDA.” Retrieved on November 15, 2005 from http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/yourguide De La Salle University College of Saint Benilde. Retrieved on November 15, 2005 from http://www.dls-csb.edu.ph/StudentGrants/Scholarship/CCP.htm APPENDIX 1: DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THE PROJECT BUDGET (ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE) Estimated expenditure (please include breakdown of every cost item, and provide detailed description and calculations for each item) Amount (in local currency) Equipment PhP1,500,00 Other Equipment and Facility Improvements Up to PhP 1,500,000 TOTAL EXPENDITURE Up to PhP3,000,000 Requested Grant Amount PhP 3,000,000 Read More