Smart Wireless Enginnering Enhancement Program: An Analysis

Summary
The general problem of the study is: How does the status of implementation affect the level of effectiveness of the Smart Wireless Engineering Enhancement Program (SWEEP)?
Specifically the study, sought answers to the following:
1. What is the status of implementation of the program in terms of:
1.1 Program Awareness;
1.2 Program Training;
1.3 Curriculum Integration; and
1.4 Laboratory Program?
2. What is the level of effectiveness of the program in terms of job relevance on the following areas:
2.1 Basic Training;
2.2 GSM System Training;
2.3 TCP/IP Training;
2.4 Wireless Fidelity Training; and
2.5 3G System Training?
3. Does the status of implementation of the program significantly affect its level of effectiveness in terms of job relevance?
4. What recommendations may be posited to make the program more effective?
The study covered the SWEEP of Smart Communications in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Region III covering five (5) years from the period of January 2003 to December 2007. The researcher limits the study in NCR and Region III because of their proximity and has the largest number of school partners.
The respondents of the study are 77 faculty members of the partnered schools and 48 former students who are now employed in mobile communications companies. These respondents provided the needed information for the completion of this study.
Questionnaires were used to gather the needed data which were supported by unstructured interview. The data gathered were tabulated and treated using frequency, percentage, mean, ranking, multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance through SPSS.
This study was conducted in the different school partners in the National Capital Region and in Region III. Table 1 presents the distribution of respondents. There were six (6) school partners in Metro Manila included in this study namely: (1) Adamson University; (2) Ateneo de Manila; (3) Feati University; (4) New Era University; (5) Polytechnic University of the Philippines; and (6) Technological University of the Philippines. For Region III, there were five (5) school partners namely: (1) Bulacan State University; (2) Holy Angel University; (3) Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology; (4) Tarlac State University; and (5) System Plus College.

The following are the hypotheses were tested in this study:
1. The extent of implementation of the program does not significantly affect the level of its effectiveness in terms of job relevance with regard to the Basic System Training.
2. The extent of implementation of the program does not significantly affect the level of its effectiveness in terms of job relevance with regard to the GSM System Training;
3. The extent of implementation of the program does not significantly affect the level of its effectiveness in terms of job relevance with regard to the TCP/IP Training;
4. The extent of implementation of the program does not significantly affect the level of its effectiveness in terms of job relevance with regard to the Wireless Fidelity Training; and
5. The extent of implementation of the program does not significantly affect the level of its effectiveness in terms of job relevance with regard to the 3G System Training.

Summary of Findings
The findings of the study were summarized as follows:
1. Status of Implementation of the SWEEP
The data revealed that the majority of the faculty members were considerably aware of the program. Majority of the faculty members have most number of training attended on the Basic Training and they are considerably satisfied on the program training. Majority of the respondents perceived that SWEEP was highly integrated in the curriculum and the laboratory program was somewhat useful.
2. Level of Effectiveness of SWEEP in terms of Job Relevance
As perceived by the former students who are now working, the level of effectiveness of SWEEP in terms of job relevance on basic training and GSM system training was considerably relevant. On the other hand, TCP/IP training, wireless fidelity training and system training were perceived as somehow relevant.
Generally, the level of effectiveness of SWEEP in terms of job relevance was considerably relevant.
3. Effects of the Status of Implementation of SWEEP on its Level of Effectiveness in terms of Job Relevance
The program training and laboratory program showed significant relationship in the level of effectiveness of the program in terms of job relevance.
The status of implementation of the program in terms of program training showed negative significant effect on its level of effectiveness in terms of job relevance on TCP/IP training while the laboratory program showed no significant relationship.
4. Recommendations to make the Program more Effective
Majority of the faculty members recommended for the installation of new equipment. Majority of the former students who are now working recommended that the program should provide hands on training.

Conclusions
Based on the findings of the study the following conclusions were drawn.
1. The extent of implementation of the program in terms program awareness, program training, curriculum integration and laboratory program showed no significant effect on the level of its effectiveness in terms of job relevance with regard to the Basic System Training.
2. The extent of implementation of the program in terms program awareness, program training, curriculum integration and laboratory program do not significantly affect the level of its effectiveness in terms of job relevance with regard to the GSM System Training.
3. The extent of implementation of the program in terms of program training significantly affects the level of its effectiveness in terms of job relevance with regard to the TCP/IP Training. The program awareness, curriculum integration and laboratory program, however, showed no significant effect.
4. The extent of implementation of the program in terms program awareness, program training, curriculum integration and laboratory program do not significantly affect the level of its effectiveness in terms of job relevance with regard to the Wireless Fidelity Training; and
5. The extent of implementation of the program in terms program awareness, program training, curriculum integration and laboratory program showed no significantly effect on the level of its effectiveness in terms of job relevance with regard to the 3G System Training.

Recommendations
Based on the findings and conclusions arrived in this study, the following are offered as recommendations:
1. The school partners and Smart Communications must be accredited Dual Training System (DTS) institution. In this manner the instructional delivery and training plan is collaboratively crafted so that the appropriate work skills and desirable work habits and attitudes developed. This also recommends that the SWEEP program be align with the Republic Act of 1994 also known as the “Dual Training System Act of 1994” signed into law last February 25, 1994;
2. The improvement of the incentives for the participating business establishment from the amount fifty per cent (50%) to one hundred per cent (100%) of the system expense paid to the Dual Trainings System educational institutions deductible from the taxable income provided that such expense shall not exceed 5% of their total direct labor expenses but in no case to exceed twenty-five million pesos (P 25,000,000.00) a year;
3. To strengthen the involvement of the Private sector in the area of environmental management. The government already started the program through the Private sector participation in Managing the Environment (PRIME), unfortunately the program ended in 2001 and it is high time that we commission this program again to complement the government regulatory mechanism. In this way the telecommunication industry can promote self-regulation through the implementation of environmental management system (i.e disposal of telecommunication equipments). In the end, the private sector pro-active position will lead to less regulation and better integration of environment to business decision; and
4. It is recommended that further study be made about the different programs of many corporations under the Corporate Social Responsibility program. Also, study on the level of performance of the beneficiaries of the SWEEP who are now employed be evaluated.