IT&E provides confab participants free Internet access

IT&E donated MiFi devices and calling cards for all the participants of the 40th Annual Conference of the Pacific Circle Consortium, which is happening this week. The conference is hosted by PSS, NMC, and RTI International. IT&E also donated $1,000 that will be used for conference expenses. From left, Jackie Che, NMC; Amy Quito-Weiss, IT&E; Frankie Eliptico, NMC; Rex Moses, IT&E; and Charlotte Cepeda, IT&E. (Contributed Photo)

Delegations from different countries who are on island for this week’s Pacific Circle Consortium 40th Annual Conference will be receiving MiFi devices from IT&E that will allow them to access the internet throughout their stay. IT&E will also be providing high speed DSL service at the conference site, as well as long-distance calling cards that will be handed all off-island participants.

“We are extremely grateful for IT&E and other companies’ support and generosity as the CNMI hosts participants of the Pacific Circle Consortium,” said Education Commissioner Dr. Rita Sablan.

The CNMI Public School System and Northern Marianas College, together with RTI International, will be welcoming educational leaders from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and other Pacific nations and territories as they arrive for the conference, which will be held at Saipan Southern High School from July 5 through 7.

This will be the first time that the Pacific Circle Consortium conference will be held in Micronesia.

“Since this will also be the 40th anniversary of PCC, the gathering is even more momentous,” said Sablan.

The total value of IT&E’s donation is $5,000, which includes a cash contribution of $1,000 that will be used to help pay for conference expenses.

“We are proud to be supporting this historic gathering of educational leaders and scholars,” said Rose Soledad, IT&E general manager. “We look forward to hearing about the great discussions and collaborations that will result from this regional conference.”

NMC interim president David Attao said that hosting the conference is not only a great honor for PSS and NMC, but it is also a great opportunity for the CNMI to connect with its regional partners in education.”

The Pacific Circle Consortium (PCC) was established in 1977 as an initiative in international cooperation between educational research and development institutions in the Pacific Region initially drawn from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The Consortium is now independent from the OECD.

The conference will feature plenary sessions and breakout sessions covering different topics. Additionally, the Peter Brice Award, which recognizes an individual who best exemplifies the aims of the PCC, will be handed out during the event. Peter Brice represented New Zealand in the early days of the PCC when it was under the auspices of the OECD; he is best remembered for his wisdom, his humanity and his lifelong commitment to educational ideals.

Sablan and Attao also thanked the business sponsors who have donated their resources to help make the conference possible.