KEEPING up with trends in Information Technology (IT), the Institute of Information and Computing Sciences (IICS) has adopted “cloud technology” in teaching some of its courses.
Through the Internet program NetSuite Academy, students can now run computer applications online without having to buy, install, or manage their own servers for courses such as Accounting and Financial Management, Business Administration, and e-Commerce.
Since a number of IICS programs offer business-related courses, NetSuite’s business concepts and principles will be useful, IICS Director Alex Santos said.
“The present direction in terms of IT services is cloud technology. We partnered with NetSuite so our students enrolled in Accounting classes can use the web application in their laboratory activities,” Santos said in an email.
Cloud technology allows users to run and manipulate their IT systems—computer applications, operating systems, servers, and network switches—as long as there is an Internet connection. Santos described the program as a “very flexible way of learning,” because students can access the system anytime and anywhere.
The NetSuite Academy program was pilot-tested on third-year Computer Science and Information Systems students in the first semester. Information Systems students now use NetSuite in their Accounting classes.
The institute is also looking at the possibility of incorporating “open-source technology” in its courses. This will allow students to examine the internal structure of computer programs and design similar applications. Arianne F. Merez
