MANILA, Philippines - Consulting firm Retail Software Associates Corp. (RSA) has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) on the grant of scholarships for the university’s graduating IT students. The agreement was signed by RSA chief executive Bo Lundqvist and PUP assistant to the vice president for Student Services, Dr. Edgardo Arellano Latoza.
Lundqvist states that PUP was chosen because many of its students come from financially challenged situations. He says that “despite their financial difficulties, PUP students make the most of the opportunities to finish college. We admire their perseverance.”
The first beneficiaries of the fund are BS Information Technology students graduating at the top of their class. They have received tuition, allowance and graduation funding from RSA. They will be trained as technical developers. This aims to lift the students’ employment potential to global status through on-the-job specialized training in world-class ERP and Retail Management Systems: Microsoft Dynamics NAV and LS Retail. Their acquisition of certification and expertise in these systems will give them competitive parity and potential for employment anywhere in Asia, Australia, Europe and the US.
The scholarship also opens local employment opportunities. Graduates have a standing offer to work with RSA under the firm’s Customer Experience Program (Cxp). RSA’s customers, should they require fresh graduates with NAV and LS skills, are likewise encouraged to hire the scholars. Lundqvist emphasizes that scholars are not under obligation to work with RSA after the program. It’s all voluntary.
RSA is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partners. Last year, RSA became the first Microsoft Partner in the Asia-Pacific to earn a Retail Industry Certification under the AMR Research Partner Industry Certification System (AMR PICS).