As Mapua University approaches its centenary, it continues its story of educational success by honoring its heritage and introducing new programs, cutting-edge studies, new learning tools and milestones.

Mapua is recognized for its cutting-edge research and curriculum; his achievements demonstrate his unwavering commitment to academic excellence and innovation.

Founded on January 25, 1925 by Tomas Bautista Mapua, the Philippines’ very first registered architect, Mapua University has consolidated its position from being one of the leading engineering and technology universities in the country to one of the best schools in the world.

Mapua University President and CEO Dodjie Maestrecampo (center, with from left) Partnership Executive Director Bonifacio Doma Jr., iPeople Inc. President and CEO Reynaldo Vea, Vice President of Academic Affairs Lilibeth Sabino and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Raul Victor Tan at the media launch to kick off the centennial celebrations on October 17, 2024 at the Mapua Cardinal Cinema in Makati. PHOTO BY ARLO CUSTODIO

Under the presidency of Oscar Mapua Jr., grandson of the founder, the Mapua family sold the academic institution to the Yuchengco group of companies headed by Alfonso Yuchengco on March 16, 2000.

“The legacy that Mapua has built since 1925 is the result of our collective efforts to achieve local and international recognition. The same efforts enable our educators to empower learners from all backgrounds to build pathways to promising careers” , said the Chief Executive Officer of Mapua University. Dodjie Maestrecampo said during the media launch to kick off the centennial celebrations on October 17 at the Mapua Cardinal Cinema in Makati.

Laguna and Davao expansions

With an initial enrollment of 75 students in 1925, Mapua has grown into a thriving institution with thousands of learners today.

From its main campus in Intramuros, Mapua’s influence in the education sector has also expanded significantly through its campuses in Makati, Laguna and Davao.

Its program offerings have grown from two courses in engineering and architecture in its early days to more than 70 undergraduate degrees, more than 50 graduate programs, a high school and a wide selection of short courses for working adults.

While recognized for its strength in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the institution has expanded into programs including business, health sciences, and health studies. the media.

In 2022, Mapua realized its vision of becoming one of the best universities in the world when it debuted in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (WUR) 2023, alongside three other Philippine universities .

It also continues to be a 4-star Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) institution, joining the top 100 universities in Southeast Asia.

While these global recognitions have solidified Mapúa’s position on the global stage, the 99-year-old institution is harnessing the transformative power of education to launch industry-aligned programs and leverage digital education to improve the overall learning experience of students.

New programs

Mapua has introduced new programs that match the ever-increasing industry demand, such as energy engineering, data science, game development, financial technology, and business intelligence and analytics, to meet the demands of a rapidly changing labor market.

These programs ensure that students have the specialized skills and knowledge needed to launch successful careers anywhere in the world.

Last October, Mapua and its sister schools, Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mapua Malayan Colleges Mindanao, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first school system in the Philippines to receive Quality Matters (QM) certification for select online courses.

This recognition means that the schools’ online offerings meet the highest standards of quality and innovation.

“As industries continue to evolve, so do the bachelor’s degree programs we offer. Our new programs are designed to develop the technically proficient and agile workforce that industries need. We ensure that students develop lasting skills that can be easily applied to any job site,” said Lilibeth Sabino, Mapua executive vice president for academic affairs.

“This strategy is why Mapua graduates are highly preferred by employers and excel in board exams; over the last two decades, we have had over 400 excel. They possess technical skills relevant to industry and exceptional soft skills,” she added.

In 2024, Mapua’s vision of making quality education accessible to all has given rise to two philanthropic learning resources: Mapua Snippets (a channel that contains free interactive micro-videos to enrich English and mathematics for primary school students) and STEMTeach (a free, fully online professional channel). development initiative designed for middle and high school STEM teachers).

Snippets and STEMTeach are both on the new MapuaX platform which hosts various online courses and micro-credentials for lifelong learners.

Collaboration with Arizona State University

The institution’s efforts to expand its brand of excellence in medicine, health sciences and business were realized in 2022 through Mapua’s collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU).

It launched programs in health sciences, nursing and commerce in 2023, followed by programs for working professionals such as Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Science in property management in 2024.

The collaboration allowed the university to leverage ASU’s partnership with OpenAI, which led to its seamless integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve student success, streamline processes and unlock new opportunities research, setting a new standard in education.

Sabino added that students are trained to maximize AI through cutting-edge modules such as Basic Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT and ChatGPT Scripting with Python so that they are ultimately proficient enough to create their own tools of AI.

It continues to strengthen its collaboration with ASU by obtaining approval from the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) for its first Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) programs.

This approval allows students to earn a dual degree or guarantees early entry into an ASU master’s program.

Digital classes

Meanwhile, Mapua has expanded its assets, including a new canteen and clinic on the Intramuros campus, state-of-the-art digital classrooms in collaboration with Cisco, and the soon-to-open Medicine Wing at the University of Mapua State-Arizona Human Health Learning. and Innovation Center on the Makati campus.

Last July, when launching the Mapua-Cisco partnership for smart classrooms, Maestrecampo said he was ready to share the technology with other academic institutions. However, he told the centenary kick-off that Mapua was prepared to share technology, not facilities.

Mapua’s historic milestones open a new chapter for the premier comprehensive university as it aims for an even bigger vision: to become a global education leader that will drive sustainable socio-economic growth through innovation, digital transformation and continuing education.

Through more advanced educational technologies, new study programs, international collaborations and accreditations, the institution aims to lead more generations of learners towards successful and long-lasting careers.