ASSAT Diploma Program Pioneers Defend Innovations

Senior Research Fellow of the Philippine Institute for Development Caesar B. Cororaton claimed in his perspective paper titled Research and Development and Technology in the Philippines (pp.24-25) that the Philippine educational system has the general tendency of producing more non-technical graduates instead of producing the much needed technical graduates. He further states that the dilemma of this present education system is primarily on 'mismatched' production of graduates: "...while there is a great demand for technical and engineering-related graduates by local industries, private tertiary schools continue to produce non-technical graduates."

It is within this concept that the Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ASSAT) hopes to address such dilemmas in line with the programs it offers through making its curriculum responsive to the changing demands of the society, specifically, its industry partners— the students' future workplace.

Last January 31, 2020, the sixteen Third Year Electrical Engineering Technology students successfully defended their respective action researches/innovative projects during the conduct of the Technology Research (Project-Based) oral presentation held at the APACC Room.

As the first batch to have taken the rigid curriculum which is a pilot-test for the Diploma Program in Electrical Engineering Technology set by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) last 2017, the said curriculum is also set for pilot accreditation to the Dublin Accord and Sydney Accord within this year.

Meanwhile, the oral defense was paneled by ASSAT Vocational School Administrator III, Catalina O. Tacubao; Training and Development Department Head, Meriam U. Cultura; along with Electrical Engr. Jermy E. Divinagracia, program expert.

The panel rated the action research paper titled "Design and Fabrication of a Mock-Up Fire Alarm System with Built-in Sprinkler" as the Best Research Paper. Such paper presented the school's limited supply of fire alarm system due to breakage as well as its cost.

As such, the group is prompted to develop a mechanism where future trainees in Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II and III, as well as students under the Diploma Program in Electrical Engineering Technology, can practice and master their skills in fire alarm-related activities —thus, the birth of the mock-up fire alarm panel which functions similarly to the conventional fire alarm panel.

The other two research papers where titled Assembling of Automatic Water Pump Controller and Fabrication and Installation of Manual and Automated PLC Time Buzzer Bell System, respectively.