The University of the Philippines (UP) has partnered with Converge ICT Solutions to train IT leads from its campuses in data center operations, as part of an ongoing collaboration under a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2025.
The three-day training, held at Converge’s newly opened data center in Angeles City, covers core areas such as data center operations, server infrastructure, cloud and artificial intelligence technologies, cybersecurity, and sustainability practices.
The program is anchored on the UP Data Center Staff Competency Framework developed by the UP Office of the Vice President for Digital Transformation (OVPDx), which aims to standardize and professionalize IT operations across the UP system.
“The training directly addresses at least six of the framework’s nine domains — from governance and compliance to emergency response and business continuity,” said Peter Sy, head of OVPDx.
Participants were given access to key areas of the facility, including the Security Operations Center, Data Command Center, power systems, and satellite infrastructure. The facility is a Tier III-certified data center designed for continuous operations even during infrastructure disruptions.
Sy said the program moves beyond formal agreements toward practical implementation.
“The program offers something rarer than a signed agreement: a working model. Institutional IT partnerships typically stall between intent and execution — between the MOU and the measurable outcome,” he said.
“Here, UP personnel are not in a seminar room reviewing slides about data centers — they are standing inside one. That distinction is what separates digital transformation policy from operational readiness.”
“This training is proof that the UP–Converge partnership is not a ceremonial exercise,” Sy added.
“Our people are inside a working data center, learning from the engineers, executives, and professionals who operate it every day. That is how we build real institutional capability — not through frameworks on paper, but through practice.”
The training was conducted under Converge’s internal training arm, with participation from industry partners including H3C and Dell Philippines.
Converge CEO Dennis Anthony Uy said the company is expanding its role in developing digital skills beyond its core telecommunications business.
“Converge is committed to building digital capability not just within our company but across institutions that shape the country’s future,” Uy said.
“Working with UP — the national university — allows us to contribute directly to the next generation of Filipino technology leaders.”
