Berkeley Systems Management has opened a new call center training arm in Cebu City, The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported today.

The center, according to the report, will "address workforce needs of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in the city amid efforts to position Cebu as a regional information technology hub."

Company president and chief executive Edward Mendez told the Inquirer that the Berkeley Institute was put up to "increase the employability of Cebu City residents by providing them with the appropriate skills that meet the standards of the BPO sector."

If you're looking for a job in one of the many BPO companies in Cebu, you'd do well to have yourself trained in Berkeley. The company is a partner of five major international call center firms in Cebu and they have an agreement to "ensure that graduates who passed the 60-hour curriculum get hired quickly."

Mendez said that of the 263 that underwent training and graduated from Berkeley Institute, 234 had been hired by call center companies.
The training, according to the report, "covers English language enhancement, customer service, American accent, communication and culture, and typing."