Source: The Manila Times

MAPUA University, the Philippines’ premier engineering and technological institution, has just turned 100, culminating its centennial year celebrations with academic and cultural events highlighting its innumerable contributions and impact on Jan. 25.

President and CEO Dodjie Maestrecampo led the festivities, which enabled students, alumni and fellow Filipino educators to reflect on Mapua’s journey, achievements and singular focus on excellence as it continuously empowers future leaders to build the future since its founding in 1925.

Leading to the culmination was a series of activities starting with the unveiling of the Centennial Square at the Intramuros campus, the Eugene Torre Chess Cup, led by its namesake Filipino chess grandmaster and Mapua alumnus Eugene Torre, grand centennial float parade and street dance competition, the last set of Centennial Lectures, and the 2025 International Conference on Sustainable Environmental Technologies or ICSET.

These activities were followed by the book launch of Mapua’s immediate past president and CEO, and now iPeople Inc. Chairman and CEO Reynaldo Vea, titled “A History of Futures Past: A Collection of Speeches,” which serves as a basis for his chronicles during his time as president of the university, a testimonial dinner for alumni topnotchers, the laying of the university time capsule, Alumni Night, and the unveiling ceremony of the Centennial Monument and Petro Garden.

The thanksgiving gala lunch, institutional salo-salo, centennial concert and a gathering of alumni from all over the world capped the celebration.

Before its centennial year, the university launched a yearlong countdown in 2024 to drum up excitement for the event. The countdown was highlighted by unveiling the Centennial Countdown Wall, the Centennial Mural “Siglo,” and a benefit concert for scholars.

_{^{(From left) Mapua University Board of Trustees member Yvonne Yuchengco, Ayala Corp. Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, and Yuchengco Group of Companies Chairperson Helen Dee at the Mapua University School of Medicine in Makati. FACEBOOK PHOTO/JAIME AUSGUTO ZOBEL DE AYALA}}

Mapua has attained various milestones, such as its inclusion in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE WUR) 2025, with a 1501+ overall rank, and among the top 6 higher education institutions (HEIs), at 4th, after Ateneo de Manila University (1001-1200), University of the Philippines (1201-1500) and De La Salle University (1501+). Mapua is followed by Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (!501+) and University of Santo Tomas (1501+).

It also attained the first Quality Matters or QM certification for a Philippine education system and bagged the much-coveted National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA Season 100 basketball title after 33 years of long effort and wait.

^{Mapua Nexus Cardinals student dancers.}

Looking toward the next 100 years

Maestrecampo stated that Mapua will continue to be a beacon of progress as it pushes the boundaries of the landscape of education to ensure that its graduates are ready for the future and capable of creating it.

“Mapua’s turn into its next century signifies its readiness to face challenges and opportunities to ensure that students would be ready for the workplace and life itself. Students can expect a more vibrant learning community, a top-notch educational experience wherein they are immersed in cutting-edge technology to aid them in learning, research, and community extension projects, and a meaningful engagement in vibrant campus life to balance their academic with extracurricular activities, enabling them to develop their leadership skills,” the President and CEO said.

_{^{The Mapua University President and CEO (right) with the immediate past president and CEO-now iPeople Inc. Chairman and CEO at the Centennial Gala at The Manila Hotel Tent City}}

While the HEI continues to establish another century of excellence by educating and preparing an even larger global network of future achievers who are bold enough to push boundaries to reshape and steer the future of the nation and the world, Mapua’s roadmap remains anchored on innovation.

Maestrecampo explained the university’s plans to strengthen its offering of fully online senior high school (SHS), undergraduate, and graduate programs to broaden the educational opportunities for learners who cannot attend face-to-face classes.

He added that Mapua would continue integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its program curricula to foster co-intelligence among its learners.

He said this approach would enhance their digital literacy and competency in learning, working and maximizing AI.

To complement this, the institution’s new and improved university-wide digital tools, Ally and EAC Visual Data, Engage, and MapúaX, have enhanced the learning experience of Filipino students and professionals through enhanced learner support, engagement and comprehensive access to educational resources.

For 2025, Mapua plans to expand its advanced placement and crediting system for SHS students so they can seamlessly transition to their chosen undergraduate programs.

Mapua undergraduate courses will be embedded into the SHS curriculum so students can take them in advance and have the units credited as they enter college.

It will also promote the upskilling and reskilling of students and working professionals through micro-credentialing and industry-aligned curriculum so they are assured of future-resilient careers.

At the same time, it will actively contribute to global research by spearheading technology-driven innovations and participating in local and international collaborations.

School of Medicine

Maestracampo said the Mapua University School of Medicine at the Makati campus started operations in December 2024 with 14 enrollees.

Its difference from other medical schools is that it uses both traditional and technology-driven teaching-learning methods, he said.

On Jan. 9, 2025, Ayala Corp. Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala posted on Facebook about his visit to the newly launched Mapua School of Medicine. With his permission, The Manila Times Campus Press is using his story.,

He said he had the pleasure of visiting the newest medical school in the country together with Ayala Corp. partner and Mapua Chairperson Helen Yuchengco Dee.

“The Mapua School of Medicine has been recently established in collaboration with Arizona State University, which has held the #1 ranking in innovation in the US for the past 10 years, and Cintana Education, an organization with extensive experience in global healthcare education, including operating 26 medical schools,” Zobel de Ayala informed.

“I am genuinely excited about this partnership, as it introduces a cutting-edge approach to healthcare in our country. By integrating the most modern suite of digital and simulation tools for medical education in the country, inter-professional training, and global exposure, we aim to develop practice-ready healthcare professionals who are equipped with all the 21st-century skills needed to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, and to succeed anywhere in the world,” he explained.

“Mapua is the flagship university of the 75,000-student school system of iPeople, and one of only five Philippine schools included in the 2025 Times Higher Education world university rankings. iPeople is our education joint venture with majority shareholder House of Investments of the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC). I am truly grateful for our partnership with Helen, Yvonne, and YGC in making world-class education accessible to as many Filipino students as possible,” the Ayala Corp. Chairman stated.

Visit https://bit.ly/ask-us-at-mapua for more information or go to admissions.mapua.edu.ph for those who want to enroll in any of Mapua University’s programs.