The Philippine Society of Information Technology Educators (PSITE) Cagayan Valley Region Chapter, along with officers from the Council of Deans for Information Technology Education II (CDITE II), participated in the PSITE National Convention held on March 21-23, 2024, at Mallberry Suites Business Hotel in Cagayan De Oro City. The event, themed “New Era of Education: PSITE’s Leadership in Embracing AI in Higher Learning,” featured a diverse array of plenary lectures and discussions.
PSITE, recognized as the nation’s largest professional IT organization, represents a broad spectrum of educators nationwide, including deans, program chairs, faculty members, industry partners, and IT innovation practitioners. The organization plays a crucial role in fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among its members through annual events like NATCON. These gatherings offer invaluable opportunities for networking, exchanging ideas, and sharing best practices in IT education.
The convention commenced with a warm welcome address by Dr. Anna Liza A. Ramos, Chair of NATCON 2024, followed by opening remarks from Dr. Joey M. Suba, President of PSITE National for 2023-2024. Messages from distinguished guests, including Fr. Mars P. Tan, SJ, President of Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan, Dr. Ambrosio B. Cultura II, President of USTP, and Hon. Ronaldo A. Uy, City Mayor of Cagayan De Oro City, set an inspiring tone for the event.
Keynote speaker Freddie T. Bernal, Ph.D., CESO III, Regional Director of CHED Region 10, provided valuable updates on CHED initiatives. The day’s sessions included insights from notable speakers like Atty. Dionel O. Albina, P. Eng’g, Chancellor of USTP-CDO, discussing the prospects and implications of AI in Philippine higher education, and Mr. Elijah Lao, CEO
The second day featured a series of engaging presentations by various experts. Ms. Janki S. Somani, Head of MasterSoft Global Operations, discussed the integration of ERP and LMS solutions. Mr. Jose Jolly R. Villaviza, Partner Development & Success Manager at Linux Professional Institute, provided strategies for professional advancement through training and certification.
Further sessions included Mr. Gil Opina Jr., Senior Research Scientist at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, on AI application development, and Dr. Jocelyn B. Barbosa, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at USTP-CDO, who shared best practices as a Center of Excellence in IT education. The day concluded with discussions on the latest technologies and industry certifications.
Day 3 focused on the latest trends in certification and networking technologies. Mr. Perry Alegre, Country Manager of IT Works, and Ms. Lorna Zacate, Vice President of IPSolutions, Inc., highlighted the importance of advancements in certification and networking within the IT sector. The convention ended with a comprehensive report from the PSITE Regional Chapter, reflecting on the discussions and outlining future directions for IT education.
PSITE NATCON 2024 successfully brought together IT educators, industry leaders, and innovators to discuss and embrace the evolving landscape of AI and higher learning. Through this event, PSITE continues to promote innovation and collaboration across the country, supporting the development of IT-enabled leaders and fostering advancements in technology infrastructure and education.
