Publicly listed Now Corporation and the prestigious Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) have partnered to launch iCollege, a much-needed academe-industry partnership that seeks to offer cutting edge professional certificate courses that push the boundaries in media and ICT education. Having engaged in knowledge process outsourcing and business process outsourcing with offices in Silicon Valley and Tokyo, Now Corporation recognizes the need to continuously upgrade Filipino knowledge and expertise to match global standards. As such, Now Corporation developed this Knowledge Hub in collaboration with AIJC to empower Filipino knowledge professionals with the latest technologies in digital media and ICT. iCollege is not just like any other technology education institution. It provides professionals in the business, media and public sectors the know-how in adapting to current technology trends, particularly the fast-paced shift towards being social, mobile and global. Participants of iCollege’s professional certificate courses in media, information and communications technology and various Internet-enabled disciplines will not only learn the essentials of the innovation but also gain valuable insight on how these can be applied in a real setting, wherein social networks dominate the computing landscape and mobile Internet usage has grown exponentially. This translates to better, high-earning career opportunities for these Filipino knowledge workers. iCollege will initially offer professional certificate programs under four tracks, namely: Media and ICT, Management and ICT, Public Sector and ICT, and Information Technology. Courses under each track include programs like: Powerful Presentation Skills, 2D/3D Animation, Practical Applications in the Use of Human Resource Systems, Social Mobile Customer Relationships Management for Enterprises, Global Marketing using Traditional and Digital Media, Use of Social Media and Mobile Technology for Advocacy and Campaigns, and Web Content Management, to name a few. Each track has a varied listing of offerings and will continue to expand as new topics are introduced. Participants to the available programs are given hands-on workshops and assignments for more effective instruction. In addition, credits gained from the certificate courses can be used to complete a Master’s Degree in either Journalism or Communications Management in the future. “We are seeing several new trends emerging in ICT-enabled operations as well as in digital media,” Now Corporation President for Collaborative ICT Services Timoteo Diaz de Rivera shares. “We feel that iCollege is now ready to serve the public at a time where there is a strong interest in many of these topics and programs. We are in fact sharing the expertise and resources of the accumulated human capital in each of our partner organizations to provide comprehensive, informative and timely courses for our program participants. For stellar students who show a keen proficiency in their courses, there may even be consulting and employment possibilities to look forward to.” For quickly growing online communities across Metropolitan Manila, iCollege’s new ICT Essentials courses couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. With campuses and classrooms located in Makati, Greenhills, and Manila, students can find a convenient venue and appropriate program that suits their professional needs. For interested parties outside of Metro Manila, many of the courses will also be available through scheduled online webinars. Expected to spark interest among participants in these courses are innovations that enable more effective interactions with target audiences or constituents anytime, anywhere, and quite interestingly on any device that accesses the Internet. This is because mobility and flexibility have become high priority enablers for building stronger business and social relationships, and the skills that can be learned from these new iCollege Knowledge Essentials programs can be vital in the personal and professional success of the course attendees. iCollege programs and classes begin as early as November 15, 2012. You may check out the full listing of their programs and other details at: www.ictvglobal.com/iCollege.