PLDT and Smart marked their 20th anniversary of SWEEP, the first and longest-running industry-academe linkage in the Philippines, by inspiring the youth to pursue STEM and ICT-related courses and careers.
SWEEP, or the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program, was launched in 2003 with the vision of making bold changes in the industry by promoting a culture of innovation in schools and by encouraging more Filipino students to get into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communications technology (ICT) fields.
Through SWEEP, PLDT and Smart have forged partnerships with over 40 leading colleges and universities across the country, providing them with access to the latest technologies, training, and mentorship from industry experts. SWEEP has also become an avenue for long-term learning and discovery about technology as a catalyst for growth and development among the youth.
One of the highlights of SWEEP is the annual Innovation and Excellence Awards, which recognizes the best student projects that use wireless technologies to solve real-world problems. Since its inception, the program has received over 1,600 entries and awarded over 300 winners, some of whom have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders in their fields.
To officially celebrate SWEEP’s two decades and the program’s milestones, the PLDT Group has just concluded a learning and networking summit called SWEEP@20 and beyond, for its partner schools this month.
Providing a peek into the future, the PLDT Group has discussed more about how 5G, AI or artificial intelligence, XR or extended reality, cloud computing, and advanced networks can help create a sustainable and more inclusive world for all Filipinos and leave no one behind.
