PLDT Enterprise powers DLSU’s e-Learning initiatives

 

(Manila, Philippines – September 2020) With the ongoing global pandemic, academic institutions have been tasked with the difficult challenge of creating a workable solution to educating today’s youth while taking into account their safety and security. De La Salle University (DLSU) is among institutions committed to providing top-quality education to students amid the current crisis and shift to e-Learning.

Recently, the university fortified its partnership with PLDT Enterprise to address its technical requirements for online learning and provide a reliable home-based setup for DLSU students and faculty.

With PLDT Enterprise’s Smart Bizload service and Smart Giga Study plans, DLSU is geared to kick off the online learning mode for Term 1 of the Academic Year 2020-2021. Bizload is a web-based credit portal that will let DLSU load their students and faculty’s Smart prepaid services. Their 300-line subscription to the Smart Bizload service will give students the benefit of data access for their online classes.

Smart Giga Study, on the other hand, includes daily data allocations that will enable the students and teachers to use online learning tools and interact in virtual classrooms.

“We make our students’ learning our priority and since we expect that DLSU’s Term 1 is geared towards online learning out of necessity, we are partnering with PLDT Enterprise to give access to our students who do not have access to the Internet, especially since Term 1 will be online intensive. Making PLDT Enterprise an integral part of our team is the best step right now to maintain our well-known standards of excellence,” said Br. Raymundo B. Suplido FSC, DLSU President.

Included in the Smart Giga Study plan is Canvas Learning Management Platform which the DLSU community can use in conducting virtual classes. Additionally, the DLSU students and faculty members will also receive Open Access Data allocation to make online learning easier.

"The pandemic has put the academic sector to the test and we at PLDT Enterprise are here to assist and support them in facing their challenges to e-Learning. We are committed to helping our partners from DLSU in finding solutions that will aid in continued learning of their students,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

PLDT Enterprise aims to redefine the future of learning through its continuous engagements with universities, colleges, schools, and learning institutions across the country so no learner is left behind. 

For more information, please visit pldtenterprise.com. 

ePLDT launches Virtual Desktop for secure, simplified WFH experience

(Manila, Philippines – August 2020) With more businesses transitioning to work-from-home schemes given the ongoing global pandemic, ePLDT Inc. introduces its latest cloud service called ePLDT Virtual Desktop to help businesses and employees simplify remote work while remaining secure and economical.

Part of ePLDT Cloud’s portfolio, the Virtual Desktop solution enables simplified and secure remote management of desktops and applications via the cloud – allowing remote workers to enjoy the same user experience as if they were in their office or workstation.

As it’s cloud-based, ePLDT Virtual Desktop provides enhanced security for businesses with remote users having safe and secure access to corporate data and applications authorized by the company. The security and integration controls help reduce security risks and ensure that no valuable corporate data are at risk in the endpoints—integral to an easy yet robust work-from-home experience.

Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups underscored that the introduction of Virtual Desktop is in support of ePLDT’s thrust to simplify the complex for its customers. 

"Our aim at ePLDT is to help businesses accelerate their digital transformation by simplifying the complex, especially today as they navigate through the pandemic," said Hernandez. “We designed this new service to address the needs of our customers looking for secure, scalable, and easy-to-deploy cloud solutions that can help them continue their operations, regardless of where they are. It’s as simple as that.”

The desktop management interface is easy to maintain and even allows upgrades & updates from a single console – allowing for faster desktop deployment.  Employees are also able to access the virtual desktop from any device they choose, whether it’s Windows, Mac, or Linux, or even their iOS and Android mobile phones. 

ePLDT Virtual Desktop service also lets businesses to enjoy flexibility and cost savings for work-from-home arrangements as opposed to setting up their own homegrown VPN or buying new servers to support remote work.

Moreover, ePLDT provides local, end-to-end support and deployment for the service - coupled with the group's expertise in the cloud - to simplify its integration and implementation for customers.

ePLDT Virtual Desktop brings together industry experts to ensure the high integrity and reliability of the said solution. It leverages on the capabilities of Microsoft Azure to deliver the security, simplified management and integration, and seamless user experience employees working from home need.

“Our focus throughout this unprecedented time has been on making sure our customers, partners and communities around the world remain connected, productive and secure,” said Andres Ortola, Country General Manager for Microsoft Philippines. “Through our longstanding partnership with ePLDT, we’re able to deliver on that commitment, providing Filipino businesses with the collaborative tools and systems they need to respond, recover, build resilience, and achieve more.”

In light of the community quarantine measures, PLDT has deployed 1,000 seats of the Virtual Desktop solution within the group to allow a smooth work-from-home arrangement for its employees—enabling them to remain efficient and productive while working remotely.

For more information on ePLDT Virtual Desktop, visit https://www.epldt.com/cloud/virtual-desktop/. 

Globe myBusiness teams up with international LMS providers to boost digital learning efforts in local schools

The global pandemic has encouraged many industries to adjust and find ways to thrive in the new normal. In the education sector, institutions are expected to explore new ways of learning while maintaining social distancing guidelines.

Earlier this month, the national government announced that face-to-face classes will be postponed until a COVID-19 vaccine is developed. The Department of Education said that the while preparing schools for “a different setup” is a challenge, the Department is readying the resumption of school operations based on their Basic Education — Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) which would affect almost the entire education infrastructure in the country — from the DepEd Central Office down to the school level. Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education shared that they are working with the Department of Health to draft guidelines on health protocols when classes resume.

 

“With the threat of COVID-19, schools and universities are seeing additional pressure to develop and implement technology that will support students’ learning. In some cases, it takes its toll on the system, leading to reliability issues that impact the overall educational experience,” says Mark Abalos, Education Segment Head for Globe myBusiness.

 

As response to this pressing need, Globe myBusiness, Globe’s center of excellence in Education, has partnered with Learning Management Services (LMS) providers to ensure that schools are supported in deploying learning platforms to their students and teachers. Together with D2L-BrightSpace, Edmodo, and Google Education, the telco giant makes sure that flexible learning options are accessible to institutions with various needs.

 

LMS is a software application that administers, documents, and tracks educational courses and training programs. Since it is accessible online, it serves as a viable alternative resource for institutions looking to offer lessons without holding physical classes.

 

“Our partnership with the world’s leading LMS providers is a promising solution to a challenge we are facing today. By using technology as a tool for education, we hope to recreate the way we learn amid these extraordinary times,” adds Abalos.

 

Globe has recently provided LMS services for partner institutions such as Indiana Aerospace University in Cebu, Top Achievers Private School, Cebu Doctors University, Bukidnon Faith Christian School, Rosemont Hills Montessori, San Pablo Colleges and St. Peter College of Ormoc. They add to the roster of institutions already enjoying the benefits of Globe’s services, joining Emilio Aguinaldo College and the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Manila.

 

Through interactive, experiential, collaborative, and reflective means, Globe myBusiness pushes to maximize digital learning. More so, parents, students, and educators can rely on Globe to be their trusted partner in making the most out of the ever-changing landscape of 21st-century learning, especially in times of crisis.

 

Learn more about this story and other efforts by Globe myBusiness for digital learning via www.facebook.com/globemybusiness.

Brigada Eskwela: BAVI volunteers prepare five schools for class opening

Bounty Agri Ventures Inc. (BAVI) employees recently took part in the Brigada Eskwela program of the Department of Education. The nationwide program encourages organizations to donate and lend a helping hand towards refurbishing public elementary and high school classrooms and facilities in time for the opening of classes.

At the Punta Integrated School in Calamba City, BAVI volunteers, led by president and general manager Ronald Mascariñas, partnered with parents of the students and other stakeholders in repainting the classrooms’ walls, ceilings, chairs, and tables. The company behind the famous Chooks-to-Go oven-roasted chicken brand also donated gallons of paint and painting equipment.

“We at BAVI are committed to helping provide needy schools with classrooms that are conducive to learning. We believe that this will inspire our young students to study more, learn new things, including love for country, towards becoming the best that they can be,” Mascariñas said.

In Butuan City, more than a dozen BAVI volunteers also helped repaint the Taligaman Central Elementary School and Ampayon Central Elementary School using paint donated by the company.

BAVI also provided funds to the Amado V. Hernandez Elementary School in Tondo, Manila and the Balatong B Elementary School in Pulilan, Bulacan to support their activities during Brigada Eskwela which is also known as National Schools Maintenance Week.