Building the future workforce: EY Global Delivery Services and Cebu Institute of Technology – University develop industry-leading academic partnership

When EY Global Delivery Services (EY GDS) partnered with Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT-U) in 2022, the initial goal was simple: introduce ServiceNow to graduating students and identify early hires. By 2024, this evolved into something bigger—a comprehensive, multi-year talent development framework that became the first global academic model of its kind.

The challenge: from opportunistic hiring to strategic pipeline

The 2022 pilot successfully placed fourth-year students into EY GDS roles before graduation. When CIT-U offered EY GDS the opportunity to teach 300 third-year IT students in 2024, the challenge shifted. These students were two years from graduation—too early for hiring but perfectly positioned for strategic development.

"We realized we could build something fundamentally different," explains Mark Colobong, ServiceNow Practice Leader at EY GDS Philippines. "Rather than treating academic partnerships as a recruiting channel, we could create a true talent pipeline that develops students progressively, aligned with real industry needs."

The challenge was maintaining engagement across two years while delivering job-ready talent in a way that made sense for all parties.

The solution: ALPS—a three-tier framework

EY GDS and CIT-U designed the Accelerated Learning Program for ServiceNow (ALPS), a multi-year journey with clear milestones and progressive skill development.

Third Year: All 300-350 students take ServiceNow Fundamentals as an elective, introducing them to enterprise software beyond theoretical frameworks.

Fourth Year, First Semester: The top 50 students advance to specialized Application Development training, learning to build custom applications and understand enterprise architecture.

Fourth Year, Final Semester: The top 36 students receive job offers and begin paid internships with EY GDS. They work toward ServiceNow CSA and CAD certifications while training in Agentic AI development. By graduation, they hold industry-recognized certifications and are ready to contribute immediately.

This tiered approach created merit-based selection points while building progressively deeper skills matched to EY GDS's workforce needs.

A three-party model: industry, platform, and academia

In 2024, CIT-U formalized the partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement with ServiceNow. With EY GDS and CIT-U already collaborating since 2022, and EY holding Global Elite Partner status with ServiceNow, the three parties created the first global academic model of its kind.

EY GDS provides experienced instructors, mentorship, and program governance. ServiceNow provides the platform, learning materials, and critically, funds certification exams—removing the financial barrier that would otherwise prevent many students from achieving professional certification. CIT-U integrated ALPS into its formal curriculum, providing academic legitimacy and coordinating logistics.

"This isn't curriculum sponsorship, it's true co-creation," notes Colobong. "Each party brings essential resources, and students benefit from industry-standard training within their academic journey."

Results: deployment-ready talent at scale

The program has exceeded initial projections. Currently, 36 students are undergoing internships with EY GDS and will join full-time upon graduation in June. They're pursuing CSA and CAD certifications while learning Agentic AI development.

The program's scalability demonstrates its viability. The second ALPS cohort is already underway with approximately 350 third-year students across eight classes—up from 80 students in the 2022 pilot.

For EY GDS, the business impact is substantial. Traditional ServiceNow hiring and training takes months. ALPS graduates arrive with certifications in hand or in progress, two years of platform experience, and established mentorship relationships.

For students, the transformation is profound. Many come from backgrounds where international technology careers seemed distant. World-class training, recognized certifications, and guaranteed employment with a global company fundamentally changes their trajectories.

Looking ahead: a replicable model

The EY GDS-ServiceNow-CIT-U partnership demonstrates how institutions, platforms, and industry can collaborate to solve tech talent shortages. Starting early and providing structured, progressive skill-building creates a sustainable pipeline benefiting all parties.

"We're not just hiring graduates," Colobong reflects. "We're co-developing talent from the ground up, ensuring they have certifications, mentorship, and real-world experience to contribute from day one. This model works, and it's scalable."

The framework's strength lies in its structure: defined roles, clear metrics, documented processes. As it expands, it offers a blueprint for workforce development in the digital age and demonstrates how developing economies can build competitive advantage through quality technology workforce development.