Asia Pacific College and National University Venture into Online Learning with Globe Business

In preparation for the upcoming trimester, Asia Pacific College (APC) and National University (NU) partnered with Globe Business to offer free connectivity solutions through SchoolSURF Plans, Home Prepaid WiFi kits, and Load Up to enrollees.

“For education to work in an online environment, teachers and students must be able to interact in a way that’s similar to the face-to-face experience. Our collaboration with Globe Business will bring learning innovations and other opportunities to ensure flexible engagements,” said NU President Dr. Renato Carlos H. Ermita, Jr.

The unavailability of internet connections to many Filipino households poses a challenge for distance learning, which is by far the safest alternative to in-school classes.

“By democratizing access to education, every student will have equal opportunity for continuous learning in a connected environment, and eventually, equal opportunity in finding their place in the workforce,” shared APC President Dr. Tata P. Medado.

At no extra cost to students and their parents, the connectivity solution from Globe shall be available to all students of APC and NU. They will simply need to plug and play the Globe Home Prepaid WiFi modem supplied by the schools. APC and NU’s IT Resources teams will disburse data under the SchoolSURF plan to the prepaid SIMs installed in each device using the Globe Load Up platform.

Globe Business’ SchoolSURF data plan is designed to reduce distractions that come with remote online learning. The plan restricts access to unauthorized websites so that parents and teachers are assured that students can focus on their school activities. With SchoolSURF, users can access digital learning apps such as GSuite, Office 365, Coursehero, and Blackboard. They may also use virtual communication platforms such as Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Viber, and Whatsapp to assist in online classes and school administration tasks. 

“Our partnership with APC and NU will allow students to maximize technologies that can prepare them for an online future,” mentioned Peter Maquera, Senior Vice President for Globe Business. “Aside from enabling e-books, course materials, high-quality video lectures, and Cloud-hosted virtual labs to be within reach, the SchoolSURF Plan also gives students a convenient way to connect. APC and NU’s programs are great examples of how we can make online learning attainable for all Filipinos.”

APC and NU are part of a consortium led by SM, one of the country’s top conglomerates in retail, banking, and property. Both institutions have developed distance learning programs to enable classes to resume amid the pandemic.

The APC Home Study Program aims to create a safe and conducive learning environment that not only makes digital resources available to students, but also allows them to consult with their industry mentors online, and engage in project-based learning through virtual tools.

On the other hand, NU’s Flexible Learning Experience—also known as FLEX—focuses on blending remote asynchronous and synchronous learning, which means students will experience a mix of scheduled classes and recorded lectures that are accessible anytime and anywhere. 

Globe Business continues to empower organizations, like APC and NU, and other large enterprises through quality services, innovative solutions, and digital know-how. Apart from connectivity solutions, the enterprise arm of Globe Telecom offers an expanding line of Cloud, cybersecurity, and ICT products to help businesses build resilience amid any situation.

This article was originally published on https://www.globe.com.ph/business/enterprise