The local succumbs to the global as the Leyte Normal University is set o offer Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) this coming school year.

As an experimental program among the new set of curricular offerings to be offered in the university, along with the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, major in Computer Science (BS Math-ComSci), Bachelor of Science in Biology (BS-BIO), and Master’s in Social Work (MSW) in the graduate program, it will only be accepting about 51 enrollees for school year 2006-2007.

“According to surveys, only a few schools offer Information technology (IT) in the region. And this is the first time that LNU will offer computer-related programs,” Dr. Rosalina H. Coral, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, told the An Lantawan.

“We must offer courses that will be useful in the industry,” she said, referring to the demand for IT in the workplace.

When asked about the personnel to man the program, the Dean boasted of a highly qualified faculty who recently graduated with the degree, Master’s in Science in Engineering, major in Information technology in the university’s tie-up project with Korea’s Hannam University.

The Dean also disclosed that the university has enough facilities to accommodate the program. She was referring to the adequate computer laboratories with 25 to 30 units of computers for hands-on exercises and internet laboratories at the 2 nd floor of the Administration Building and the Multimedia Room at the Graduate Library equipped with IBM computers accessible to a DSL connection.

Meanwhile, the University President, Dr. Evelyn C. Cruzada, gave the assurance that the university under her administration would continue to target excellence so as to produce quality graduates who can compete internationally.

“We have to train students to have a better edge in the global market. We are vigorously pursuing the putting up of a training center where students can gain proficiency in the English language so that while they are still looking for jobs in their respective fields, they could qualify for the call center industry,” Dr. Cruzada said, adding that talks between the Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho lo. Petilla and the Department of Trade and Industry-VIII Regional Director, Cynthia Nierras, are about to take place anytime this year.

“The university will adopt the ladderized curricula in its BSIT Program as used by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA,” she further said. “We therefore, expect the BSIT program to take off,” the President said when asked about her expectations upon the implementation of the program this coming school year.