IT services, consulting and business solutions provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) commended students of Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) for successfully completed the pilot run of goIT program journey. Participating students from different schools in the said region develop mobile applications that provide solutions to the many societal issues their respective communities are currently facing.
“On behalf of the entire TCS Philippines team, we would like to congratulate our first batch of goIT students in the Philippines. Their output proved that the Filipino youth are capable of creating a better future for the country. TCS is eager to bring the success of goIT Cordillera to other parts of the Philippines and showcase the Filipino students’ impeccable talent for technology,” shares Shiju Varghese, TCS Philippines country head.
Designed to demystify computer science and encourage students to pursue STEM education, the goIT is an experiential immersive program that provides students the opportunity to develop design, critical thinking, public speaking and presentation, and problem solving skills.
The program is a five-day workshop wherein TCS incorporates 20th century skills through six modules that are facilitated by the TCS employees as well as DepEd facilitators. These modules include the STEM skills gap and computer science, becoming a Design Thinker, choose a problem to solve in your community, create the story board for your concept, prototyping your concept, and pitching your concept. These are conducted through play and interactive activities. The program targets students from as young as five years old up to 18 years old but in the Philippines, they are targeting the junior high school students who are about to decide what path they are going to pursue with.
Participants in the program reached a total of 283 students in 22 schools in six CAR provinces, namely, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt.Province, and Kalinga. These student-participants created 46 mobile applications based on modules intended to develop their skills on design, critical thinking, public speaking and presentation and problem solving.
The Cordillera Regional Science High School (CRSHS) was presented the championship award for its winning entry, “Transformers,” an app that provides solution to the community’s dilemma on waste management. It highlighted the beauty in trash by creating a market place between companies and regular consumer for an organized recycling and upcycling transactions. Apart from providing income to its users, the app hopes to collaborate with GPS Tracking and delivery service providers for a more convenient and safe disposal of orders, and helps fight waste pollution.
The CRSHS also bagged the first runner-up award for its entry “Comstop” which aimed to deliver solutions to the region’s food waste problem. The second runner-up was awarded to Alejo M. Pacalso Memorial High School for its “TY Alert,” an app designed as a holistic source of information in times of typhoon and relevant calamities. Baguio City Science National High School and Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School were tied at third place with their entries, “Anemo” or an app which addresses the challenges in water consumption and “WeCare,” which tackled the pressing issues about mental health, respectively.
