As part of its ongoing efforts to develop the country’s future energy experts, Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Meralco Power Academy (MPA) has partnered with Mindanao State University-General Santos (MSU-GenSan) to promote education, training, and research initiatives in the energy sector.
Officials recently signed a memorandum of agreement to formalize the undertaking that aims to boost capability-building initiatives by offering specialized training programs, learning events, and industry immersion opportunities for students.
Among the planned initiatives are the Mindanao leg of the Young Engineers and Scientists Summit and the development of advanced academic programs in renewable energy and nuclear science.
MSU-GenSan Chancellor Shidik T. Abantas emphasized the importance of aligning academic programs with industry needs to prepare students for their professional careers.
“This collaboration is vital for MSU-General Santos as it bridges our colleges with industry, helping prevent skill mismatches. Moving forward, we aim to involve industry partners in shaping our curriculum to ensure our graduates are truly workforce ready,” he said during the signing ceremony held at Meralco’s headquarters in Pasig City.
The latest collaboration with MSU-GenSan follows a similar partnership between MPA and MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), through which they aim to ensure that students are equipped with the practical skills and knowledge required to thrive in the energy sector.
For MPA, this is part of a broader mission to empower aspiring engineers and scientists with the expertise to succeed in the evolving energy landscape. Recognizing the strong track record of MSU in producing top-tier electrical professionals, MPA sees great value in deepening its collaboration with the university.
“This collaboration is especially meaningful as it focuses on areas like AI and energy, which are fields that align perfectly with our vision for Meralco Power Academy to become a center of excellence in these domains. We see great potential for impactful collaboration with MSU-GenSan in these critical areas,” said Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and MPA President Ronnie L. Aperocho.
