Hitachi Laboratory Equipment Donation Extends Nationwide

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) announced today the

expansion of its knowledge and skills enhancement initiative in the

Philippines called the Integrated University Programwith the

launch of its regional laboratory center at Cebu Technological

University (CTU) Main Campus. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, DOST

Secretary Dr. Estrella Alabastro, PEZA Director General Atty. Lilia de

Lima and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Nona

Ricafort were present to witness the turnover of laboratory facilities

to CTU – Hitachi’s latest recipient.

Launched in 2008, the Integrated University Program is the result of an

alliance between key local universities and Hitachi GST Philippines’

Laguna-based facility to provide scholarships, research grants,

sponsorships, laboratory donations and on-the-job training (OJT) to both

students and faculty members. This program signifies the company’s

commitment to build local hard disk drive technology and manufacturing

capabilities in the country, as well as nurture and develop essential

skills associated with the industry. The program had initially focused

on Manila until CHED and Hitachi GST agreed to mount a wider regional

initiative to benefit more schools at the national level. The launch at

CTU marks the start of this program extension.

“We have recommended the set up of seven labs in public institutions

strategically located nationwide to enable other schools within the

region to share in the use of the laboratory facilities. This way, we

are increasing coverage of the program to help more students and faculty

around the country,” says CHED Commissioner Ricafort.

A key element of the program is a donation from Hitachi GST laboratories

consisting of cutting-edge equipment. The first recipients in 2008 were

Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) and the University of the Philippines

(UP). The laboratory donation focuses on robotics (multi-axis robots,

precision stages, servo motor control and vision systems) and metrology

(interferometry, microscopy and measurement). Other university

recipients from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will receive similar

laboratory donations.

Under the program, scholars, research grantees and on-the-job trainees

are chosen every year. Grants and scholarships focus on academic

disciplines in engineering (mechanical, electrical, chemical and

industrial), the sciences (chemistry, physics, materials and computer

science) and statistics. The initial six beneficiary universities

included AdMU, De La Salle University (DLSU), Mapua Institute of

Technology (MIT), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), UP

and University of Santo Tomas (UST).

OJT students are trained to work with state-of-the-art robotics,

metrology and design resources at the Hitachi GST facility in Laguna.

Faculty research grants fund the study of subjects concerning the

environment, including hazardous waste treatment, power efficiency and

water utilization.

The Hitachi GST facility in Laguna plays a key role in converting high

density silicon wafers into magnetic recording heads that are used to

read and write data stored on a hard drive. Magnetic head technology

advancements allow hard drive suppliers to continue making improvements

in the areas of power consumption, shock tolerance and overall storage

capacity.

“Hitachi is impressed by the highly skilled workforce in the

Philippines. Through the Integrated University Program, we like to think

that we are helping to develop the tremendous potential of these future

scientists and engineers,” said Dr. Tuan Tran, vice president, Worldwide

Head Operations, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.