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Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) is a 3-star rated institution of the Quacquarelli Symonds in 2021.  This is a testimony of Mapúa MCL’s achievements in instruction, research, employability, and facilities in the past several years. 

Last November 8 to 10, 2022, Mapúa MCL participated in the Higher Education Summit of the QS Asia Pacific. This was held at the Intercontinental Hotel Pondok Indah, Jakarta Indonesia and was co-hosted by the Universitas Indonesia and the Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.  It was attended by more than 2,000 participants in over 100 countries in the world.  

The theme of the Summit is “The Next Big Thing: Addressing new Opportunities and Existing Challenges in the APAC Higher Education”. It marks the comeback of the face-to-face event after the pandemic and the organizers are very thankful for the warm reception of the universities to the QS APAC invitation. 

Mapúa MCL was represented by Prof. James Ronald O. Mesina, Assistant-Vice President for External Relations and Global Linkages; and Dr. Hermie V. Articona, Director of the Research Promotion and Coordination Office. 

Prof. Mesina describes “QS Asia Pacific Higher Education Summit as a good opportunity for universities and higher education institutions to strengthen their reputation and presence in the Asia-Pacific region. It also provides a venue for universities to collaborate and share best practices in the areas of international cooperation, research, outcomes-based education, industry-academe linkages, and digital education.” 

In the area of research, Dr. Articona sees the QS summit as a venue for Mapúa MCL to introduce its institutional research thrusts to other universities, build network, facilitate sharing of resources for research, and explore collaborative opportunities, which are all deemed crucial in creating more impactful projects not only in the local level but in a global scale.  

Mapúa MCL is geared to renew its QS rating for 2024 to make it more competitive and adaptive to the global norms of digital and outcomes-based higher education.  

Malayan Colleges Laguna, A Mapúa School (MCL) received a Certificate of Commendation and a trophy last August 26, 2022 from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for its achievement in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Star Rating in 2020. The QS Stars university rating system uses a comprehensive and in-depth framework to rate and compare university performance across a broad range of key criteria. It’s designed to provide valuable insights into areas of strength and weakness, driving best-in-class standards in higher education (from the QS website.) 

The recognition was part of CHED’s commemoration of the 55th Founding Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through a celebration with the Philippine higher education sector.  

Citing the letter addressed to the MCL President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, Atty. Lily Freida C. Macabangun-Milla, CESO IV, Director of the CHED International Affairs Staff stated that the “ASEAN ICONS is a recognition of “exemplary Philippine Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that championed the global reputation of the Philippine higher education through their commendable performance in recognized international rankings and ratings, trailblazing efforts to advance internationalization of HEIs, and innovative initiatives to contribute to the country’s economic and societal goals. As a champion of internationalization and a leader in elevating the global reputation of Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs)” as the primary consideration of MCL’s commendation along with other notable institutions.  

On the same communication, the CHED-International Affairs Staff (IAS) made the invitation to the ASEAN Philippine Higher Education Internationalization Champions Of Nation-building and Sustainability Awards Night (ASEAN ICONS) last August 26, 2022 in Hilton Hotel, Pasay City. 

Last September 16, 2022 MCL Assistant Vice-President for External Relations and Global Linkages, Prof. James Ronald O. Mesina, paid a courtesy call to Atty. Lily Milla at the CHED Office to receive the award and renew MCL’s commitment to collaborate with CHED and other institutions in promoting international cooperation. Currently, the Colleges and the Office for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement are catching up on the commitments made to our international partners and affiliates. 

MCL continues to prove its dedication to its motto, “Excellence and Virtue” by constantly seeking growth, development, and global competitiveness. Being able to achieve QS Star Ratings for Employability, Facilities, and Social Responsibility and Inclusiveness is relatively unique and impressive for a young institution like MCL. Based on the performance-based metric system, MCL was awarded an overall rating of three (3) QS Stars by the Quacquereli Symonds (QS) Star Ratings. 

According to Dr. Maestrecampo, the internationalization of MCL is one of the key strategies that improves the quality of teaching, learning, and research activities of the institution. He said, “Our partnerships with Arizona State University and the Business College of Athens are examples of these efforts to further enhance our business, health science, and maritime programs. Furthermore, the Quacquerelli Symonds (QS) Star Ratings that MCL received in 2020 is a testament to the achievement of the best-in-class global standards in the areas of teaching, innovation, engagement, and employability of all our programs.”  

On March 29, 2023, the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification, Inc (GBCI) hosted the Leadership in Energy and Environment (LEED) in Southeast Asia Series in Dusit Thani Manila in Makati, Philippines. The series includes an Exclusive Panel Discussion with different field professionals including Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (Mapúa MCL) President and Chief Executive Operator, Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo.

The event kicked off with welcoming remarks from GBCI’s Associate Director for Marketing Development, Mr. Rohith Ravula. The panel discussion focused on Building Design, Construction, and Performance Monitoring for Higher Efficiency towards Net Zero. Zero-Energy Buildings or Net Zero Buildings are infrastructures with no net carbon emissions during its construction and operation. During the Exclusive Panel Discussion, Dr. Maestrecampo explained why Mapua MCL opted for a LEED education. He said, “Mapúa Malayan Colleges is a professional higher education institution that specializes in acquiring knowledge and skills in a specific profession. Our strategy is to produce triple-threat graduates who finish college with a broad education in the form of a bachelor’s degree but is also armed with these three critical outcomes such as (1) engagement in several long-term projects, (2)

extensive work experience through an academically linked internship and on-the-job training, and (3) an industry-recognized credential.”

Mapúa MCL is the first school in Southeast Asia to subscribe to LEED learning modules. Dr. Maestrecampo mentioned that “Incorporating LEED learning modules into our curricula will allow our students to qualify for LEED certification. And through our partnership with US Green Building Council and LEED-certified consultants, we can provide opportunities for students to engage in long-term sustainable building projects, including working with companies on real-world projects that aim to achieve LEED certification, hitting all the outcomes of our triple-threat approach. Furthermore, we need to instill the sense of social responsibility and a culture of sustainability to empower the future generation of workforce to become responsible leaders and citizens of the world.“

The other panelists, Ms. Charmaine Uy, the President & COO of Daiichi Properties; Mr. Darneil Perez the BA Director Places & Country Director of ARCADIS Philippines; Mr. Eric John C. Enriquez, the VP -Megaworld Premier Offices from Megaworld Corporation; Ar. Kristina Samantha Pobre, the Sustainability Manager of ArthaLand Corporation; and as well as the panel moderator, Mr. Gopalakrishnan, the Managing Director of Green Business Certification Institute Pvt. Ltd. shared their experiences and expertise, emphasizing the need for a collaborative effort in practicing sustainability and developing net zero buildings. They also discussed the importance of performance monitoring to ensure that buildings continue to operate efficiently over time.

High greenhouse gases emission and the lack of sustainability are some of our world’s biggest issues nowadays — and Mapúa MCL being a part of discussions like these truly proves that the institution will constantly strive to contribute solutions to our society’s problems with excellence and virtue.

Last March 17, 2023, B.S. Architecture student Joyce Micah Almendral from Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL), won first runner-up and the People’s Choice Award at Projéto Ideas & Design Competition: Worldbex 2023 with her project titled “PLUMA.”  

Ms. Almendral’s proposed public library project, “PLUMA,” is a stunning example of innovation and creativity in architecture. The design incorporates elements of Filipino culture and heritage as it was named after the pen used by Jose Rizal, the “Pluma”, making it a truly unique and meaningful piece of architecture.

Throughout her journey at the competition, Ms. Almendral was supported by her college department, the Mapúa Institute of Technology at Laguna (MITL), Dean Jesuniño Aquino, her Program Chair, Ar. Wilfredo Gacutan, and her advisers, Ar. Jose Enriques E Valencia and Ar. Paul Eugene A. Ong. Their guidance, expertise, and encouragement undoubtedly played a significant role in Ms. Almendral’s success, and their dedication to their students and their craft is a testament to the quality of education and mentorship that Mapúa MCL provides. 

This recent achievement of one of the talented minds in Mapúa MCL is a significant accomplishment not just for Ms. Almendral, but also for the entire Mapúa MCL community. It is a testament to the talent, dedication, and hard work of everyone involved, and it serves as a reminder that excellence truly is in our Mapúans’ DNA.  
 

Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna is officially relaunching the Pathways to Employability program following the most recent event titled “Pathways to Employability: Career Fair 2023” last January 27, 2023, held during the celebration of Mapúa MCL’S 17th Foundation Week.

The Pathways to Employability program aims to improve the institution’s employability culture in pursuit of complying with workforce industry demands and developments by fostering and strengthening industry-academic collaboration. Aligned with the school’s mission to “provide the learning environment that would transform our students into globally competitive professionals”, Mapúa MCL continues to find ways as an institution to work with the industries in meeting each other at one endpoint and one goal towards nation-building by devising support systems, such as active coordination with companies for industry placement.

It is an initiative designed by the institution that is directed to aid its students in exploring how to maximize their skills in an academic setting in preparation for them prior to entering the workforce. The advantages that are brought by this endeavor are not restricted solely to those who are in the academe but also encompass the industry sector as the school enables the students to exceed the expectations and requirements of their prospective employers for a greater rate of employability.

The timeline of the Pathways to Employability program can be dated all the way back to April 2022, wherein one of its first projects is the successfully conducted “Industry 4.0 Thought Leadership Series”. Six college departments collaborated in the webinar series which sought to serve as a hub for collaboration between academia and industry in order to address Industry 4.0 problems and challenges brought on by the pandemic.

With the collaboration of a broad range of industry partners, MCL has been able to provide its graduates with excellent work possibilities with the potential to advance to careers worldwide. The career fair managed to give potential candidates the opportunity to interact and network with multiple recruiters, discover their options, and obtain insightful information about various professions and businesses. The relevance of the program stems from its ability to introduce students to possible recruiters and offer them a glimpse of a career before they graduate.

Students and alumni may look forward to the upcoming events for the Relaunching of Pathways to Employability program. The Office for External Relations and Global Linkages will be conducting a virtual session titled “Marketplace of Opportunities” to offer great opportunities for students who would like to consider applying for internships in institutions, as well as talent acquisition officials. Several valued industry partners are invited to discuss their company’s profile and history, career opportunities, and a summary of job vacancies aligned with each of Mapúa MCL’s program offerings. The event will be held on March 22, 23, and 25, 2023, wherein internship opportunities, application procedures, school policies on internships, and other relevant matters will be discussed.

Alongside these activities, the Office for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement is boosting its portfolio of linkages with industry partners to support to the programs such as student internship, faculty immersion, industry-based research projects and other engagements.

Last January 27, 2023, the Office for External Relations and Global Linkages (OERGL) hosted the Career Fair 2023, a job search event that is part of the Pathways to Employability. This was held in E300 Rooms at the Einstein Building and was a major event of Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (Mapúa MCL) 17^th Foundation Week Celebration.

The Career Fair 2023 was open to all Mapúa MCL students and alumni who are looking for career development and internship opportunities. This program places particular emphasis on efforts to provide assistance for graduating students and alumni with their career planning and development. More than 600 participants registered for the event where they were provided with a wide range of opportunities, some of which they would not have pre-considered, and provide them the chance to simultaneously interact with several employers.

Employers from each company were given the chance to conduct a brief presentation during the program to inform the prospective applicants about the profile and background of their company, job opportunities, and an overview of positions aligned to each of MMCL’s academic programs.

As part of the program, Mapúa MCL has also invited LinkedIn Asia’s Enterprise Account Director, Cliff Meng Adora, to give the students a talk through a hybrid setup via Zoom learning session on understanding the importance of LinkedIn and how they will be able to amplify their own personal brands. MMCL is in collaboration with LinkedIn which is acknowledged as the world’s largest professional platform. Through this partnership, students are granted access to hundreds of expert-led courses and are also empowered to engage with a massive network of experience.

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Engr. Anthony Hilmer Medrano welcomed the participants with the statement about the renaming of MCL into Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna. Engr. Medrano emphasized that this milestone will further push the institution’s commitment to deliver the Mapúa brand of excellence in education in the region.

In addition, Engr. Medrano said that “This is part of our mission and vision, MCL aims to be a global steeple of excellence in professional education. We strive to deliver not only in terms of offering our students a degree. As we all know, companies are evolving, and we need to narrow the gap between the industry and the academe. We have to innovate our offerings so we can narrow that gap.”

Assistant Vice President for External Relations and Global Linkages, Prof. James Ronald O. Mesina gave the rationale in relaunching the Pathways to Employability stressing the need to strengthen the industry-academe collaboration to make outcomes-based education (OBE) work, and for both sectors to produce value out new talents who can contribute to nation-building. Prof. Mesina expressed MMCL’s sincere gratitude for the industry partners’ active participation and meaningful engagement since 2007 to support the students and graduates’ integration into the professional workforce.

MMCL presented a token of appreciation to twenty-one (21) industry partners who collaborated with the institution for Career Fair 2023. These are:

1. LinkedIn
2. Hino Motors Philippines Corporation
3. Fasttrack Solutions Inc.
4. Toshiba Information Equipment (Phils.), Inc.,
5. Monark Equipment Corporation
6. RCBC – Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
7. Continental Temic Electronics (Phils) Inc.
8. Accenture Inc.
9. Kooapps Philippines
10. Ampleon Philippines
11. Optodev, Inc.
12. The Bellevue Manila
13. Automated Technology (Phil.) Inc.
14. Amherst Laboratories, Inc.
15. Makati Development Corporation
16. Monde Nissin Corporation
17. Navarro Amper & Co.
18. Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna
19. Laguna AAAWater Corporation
20. Seda Nuvali
21. Fluor Daniel Inc.

In line with the 1st Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED), the entire Mapúa MCL community will be conducting an Earthquake Drill on March 9, 2023 (Thursday) at exactly 2:00 PM. All MCL students, faculty members, and employees are encouraged to participate in the “Drop, Cover, and Hold” procedure.

The Senior High School (SHS) years are a critical time in a student’s life when they need to make important decisions about their future careers. Choosing the right career can be a daunting task, especially when there are so many options to consider. To help their students make informed decisions about their future careers, the Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna’s Center for Guidance and Counseling (Mapúa MCL CGC) in collaboration with the SHS department’s advisers and coordinators organized the SHS Career Week, a week-long event that aimed to provide guidance and support for their students.

The SHS Career Week, which ran from February 6 to 13, 2023, was the first face-to-face event of its kind after two years of celebrating it online due to COVID-19 restrictions. The event offered a wide range of activities and events that were designed to help students explore different career options, gain a deeper understanding of their strengths and interests, and make informed decisions about their future careers.

Throughout the week, students were given the opportunity to attend career talks, where they could learn about a variety of careers and listen to professionals share their experiences and insights. The talks were attended by Mr. Reynard Leo Francisco and as well as all the college departments in Mapúa MCL, namely the College of Arts and Science (CAS), College of Computer and Information Systems (CCIS), E.T. Yuchengco College of Business (ETYCB), Mapúa-PTC College of Maritime Education and Training (Mapúa-PTC CMET), and Mapúa Institute of Technology at Laguna (MITL). Additionally, Mapúa MCL-SHS alumna, Maru Joi Pasion, Emmanuel Santos, Jr., Charmaine Eunice Rabano, Job Lipat, and Reginald Lunar also joined the event with their talks about their college life.

Aside from the career and college life talks, students also participated in the Career Dress-up event where they were able to dress up as their future professional selves, helping them visualize and aspire to their dream careers. They also had the chance to participate in a career booth competition and a career class pictorial, allowing them to showcase their creativity and engage with other students.

The week-long celebration culminated in an awarding ceremony where students were recognized for their hard work and efforts in the week-long event. The ceremony was an opportunity for the school to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication of the students in their pursuit of their future careers.

Mapúa MCL CGC and the Mapúa  MCL-SHS department’s efforts to help students plan for their futures and become globally competitive are an integral part of the school’s commitment to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in the workforce. Through events like the SHS Career Week, the school is empowering its students to make informed decisions about their future careers and become future leaders in their respective fields.

Overall, the SHS Career Week was a resounding success and a testament to the school’s commitment to providing Excellent Mapúa Education in the area, having provided Mapúa MCL-SHS students with opportunities to explore different career options while gaining valuable insights into the professional world.

On November 12, 2022, the Office for External Relations and Global Linkages (OERGL) together with the Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE), was joined by a total of 53 volunteers from both the Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) college and alumni community for the tree-planting activity, One Tree at a Time, in support of Sustainable Development Goal #15, Life on Land.

A “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now into the future” (United Nations) is what Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in a nutshell. The SDGs are made up of 17 interconnected goals that intend to make sure that people will continuously enjoy what planet Earth has to offer. This call to action believes in the importance of sustainability in eradicating poverty, improving health and education, reducing inequality, and igniting economic growth.

SDG #15: Life on Land, aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and forests. With the drive and commitment to help achieve this global goal, OERGL reached out to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Sta. Cruz, Laguna to conduct a tree-planting activity in contribution to the National Greening Program mandated by

Executive Order 193, s. 2015 that targets to plant 1.5 billion trees from 2011 until its expanded coverage in 2028.

The volunteers were also assisted by the Siniloan Tenured Migrants’ Association, who helped clean up and prepare the site. Marissa Cepeda, one of the members of the people’s organization, said that initiatives such as this truly help the different communities surrounding the area and beyond, especially when a typhoon hits. A total of 500 seedlings, composed of bignay and kasoy, were planted by the student and alum volunteers.

The locale of the tree-planting is in one of the 68 protected areas – Siniloan, Laguna, where Mount Romelo sits. It is at the southwest border of the Sierra Madre mountain range which is known for stabilizing the soil and water flow and being the buffer of several provinces and cities from being greatly affected by calamities.

CSCE Director, Ms. Jocelyn Bellin, shared, “CSCE remains committed to upholding these SDGs because it has a trickle-down effect on the other equally important goals.” She also added that community engagements should always be anchored on the key elements of the Sustainable Development Goals.

These goals will only remain as goals if not acted upon. Mapúa MCL shall continue to both perseveringly promote these goals and be a dedicated and dependable part of the action towards achieving them.

Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) has always been committed to promoting social responsibility and community service to its students, employees, faculty members, and alumni. Therefore, before concluding the year 2022, the project titled, At the Frontlines of Social Responsibility: Christmas Community Engagement Series was activated – a series of service-learning and community service activities in Mapúa MCL’s adopted communities in collaboration with the Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE) and the various departments.

Volunteers composed of students, employees, and alumni conducted their first Christmas community engagement since the pandemic, at Barrio Pasbul, Porac, Pampanga last December 17, 2022.

Assistant Vice-President for Strategic Partnerships and Global Linkages, and concurrently the Director of the Alumni Center, Prof. James Ronald Mesina shared that this project started in 2015 when some alumni and student volunteers visited the community for a Christmas Outreach. It was followed by several community engagement activities in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

The Aetas community in Pasbul, Porac, Pampanga is located within the 10-kilometer danger zone of Mount Pinatubo. They were displaced during the volcanic eruption in 1991 but chose to remain in their ancestral lands years after. The community has nearly 200 families in the three (3) sitios: Cuyucot, Liplip and Patal.

From December 7, 2022, students, alumni, employees, and faculty members signed up and volunteered to be a part of the spirit of giving by donating their 3Ts – time, talent, and treasure. Overall, 60 volunteers joined the engagement itself along with over a hundred donors who supported the activity through their in-kind and financial contributions.

To make the day more productive and eventful, each volunteer was assigned to a team with assigned community service tasks. The team in charge of the program conducted several games involving both the volunteers and the Aeta children. This encouraged everyone to connect and interact with the members of the community even more. An unforgettable time was shared with everyone and at the same time, the children had a lot of fun earning and winning various prizes from the donations.

Each committee efficiently collaborated during the engagement. While the games committee were entertaining the Aeta children, another team was appointed to prepare the packed donations that were distributed to the families of the community in Barrio Pasbul. Each pack contained rice, eggs, canned goods, and other easy-to-prepare food products that can basically fulfill the primary needs of an average Filipino family.

The food committee, on the other hand, prepared a filling and bountiful lunch in which all ingredients were from donations of people both inside and beyond the Mapúa MCL community. The meals were then served by the volunteers to the local community. Lunchtime was a communal moment because not only was food shared together as stories about the community’s interesting culture, traditions, and history were learned upon by the volunteers as well.

Mapúa MCL always makes sure to align its community engagements to the Sustainable Development Goals. For this community engagement, the institution aimed to incorporate SDG #2, Zero Hunger and SDG #3, Good Health and Well-being. While projects such as this aren’t immediate solutions to these societal problems, to do it consistently and passionately is always a step closer to achieving it.