The Memorandum of Understanding between Intel Technology Philippines, Inc (ITPI) and the College of Engineering and Technology, De La Salle University – Dasmarinas (DLSU-Dasmarinas) outlines the work to be done to support the college’s needs in the areas of curriculum and faculty development as well as identifying new knowledge directions for the industry.

Both parties agreed to setup a committee composed of ITPI and DLSU-Dasmarinas representatives which will look into and recommend to the parties’ particular curriculum and faculty development programs and other areas of potential collaboration.

Ms. Arlita Narag, Head of Corporate Affairs of Intel Technology Philippines, and Dr. Estrellita V. Gruenberg, Executive Vice-President of the DLSU-Dasmarinas signed the Memorandum in behalf of their organizations. Witnessing the event were Jay Tulao, Program Manager for Intel Higher Education, Dr. Veronica L. De Leon, Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Research, Engr. Jose Rizaldy A. de Armas, Head, College of Engineering and other DLSU-D officials.

The research of Filipino scholars from the University of the Philippines’ National Institute of Physics, Dr. Carlo Mar Blanca, Vernon Julius Cemine, Bernardino Buenaobra and Dr. Caesar Saloma, was selected by the Optical Society of America as one of the top research in optics worldwide for the year 2006. Their paper, along with 30 others, were selected from worldwide entries representing 16 countries.

According to the publishers: “This special issue highlights the most exciting research to emerge in the preceding 12 months in the fast paced world of optics. The areas covered in 2006 include array detectors, Bloch oscillations, coherent imaging, diffractive optics, imaging, metamaterials, non linear optics, optical beams, opto-mechanics, polarization, Raman spectroscopy, soft X rays, and ultrafast science.”

Their research, supported by grants from Intel Philippines and by the OVPAA and OVCRD grants of the University of the Philippines, focuses on a cheaper and better way of detecting defects on microchips, using a special type of inspection technique called High Resolution OFT. Their work has significant applications in the chip industry.

The theme of the 7th EECCE Conference was “Bridging Communities Through Emerging and Sustainable Electronic Information Technologies.” Co-presented by the Intel Philippines Higher Education Program, the conference is the largest academic national conference in the field of Electrical, Electronics, Computer and Communications Engineering research and development in the Philippines. It is organized and supported by various academic, research, industry and professional institutions involved in electronics and electrical engineering education, research and development. It acts as a forum for educators, engineers and scientists to present latest research and development outputs. More specifically, its objectives were to:

1. Provide a venue for research dissemination in the field of electrical, electronics and computer engineering;
2. Promote a culture of research in electrical, electronics and computer engineering;
3. Provide a forum for discussion of the improvement and upliftment of electrical, electronics and computer engineering education; and to
4. Initiate and strengthen linkages between the academy, industry and government.

One of the special topics presented in the plenary sessions was on “RFID Solutions in the Semiconductor Industry.” It was presented by Mr. Rick Tyo, Principal Architect in the Solutions Strategy and Architecture Team of Intel Corporation.

Intel Higher Education Program was a major sponsor of the One ECE: The National ECE Students’ Congress held in De La Salle University, Taft Campus on November 20, 2006. About 350 ECE students from different universities in the Philippines attended the event. Dr. Joel Marciano, Jr., Chairperson of the Department of the Electrical, Electronic Engineering of the University of the Philippines in Diliman presented a paper on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) while Mr. Vincent Balasbas presided over a special session entitled “Engineering Life in Intel.”

Nine (9) professors from the Philippines representing the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University engineering and science departments attended the Asia Academic Forum 2006 held in Kuala Lumpur last November 13-15, 2006.

A total of 143 participants, including faculty members from seven (7) Asian countries, officials from the Taiwan Science Council and the Korean Ministry of Education, Intel Fellows and Education Managers attended. The theme of this year’s forum focused on “Multi-Core: A Leap Ahead for Research and Curriculum.” The specific objectives of the forum were to:

• Update and showcase Intel’s technology roadmap, business and research directions to academia;
• Foster environment and opportunities for interaction and collaboration between faculty/academia and Intel key technologists;
• Showcase good work of key faculty in curriculum development and research; and
• Understand the role of the local R&D team.

One of the presenters was Dr. Ruby de la Torre from Intel Technology Philippines. Her topic was on “Failure Analysis: Solving Real-world Failures using Acoustics, Optics and Electron Beams.