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Global education across significant programs and courses is reachable and made possible in the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region through the expanded collaboration between Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) and Arizona State University (ASU).
Mapúa Education Group, of which Mapúa MCL is a part of, is the first and only education group in the Philippines to have a system-wide collaboration with a top-ranked global university like ASU — ranked number one (1) in the U.S. for innovation[1], and first in the U.S. and top 10 worldwide for global impact in research, outreach, and stewardship[2].Mapúa MCL, founded in 2006, is renowned for being one of the best board exam-performing educational institutions in CALABARZON. It is the first ISO 21001:2018 – EOMS Certified School in the region and continues to earn international recognition: ranking 1501+ in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025 and achieving high ranks in a total of ten (10) categories for the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) 2026, ranking 224th in the Global Top 500 Innovative Universities. The institution was also given three (3) Stars by the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Rating System in 2024, with five stars in Employability, Online Learning, and Social Impact.
Primarily and initially focused on business and health sciences, the collaboration between Mapúa MCL and ASU has now evolved into a comprehensive, full-scale academic one. This shift in collaboration makes all undergraduate programs at Mapúa MCL to have access to quality global education. This includes premium, ASU-enhanced coursework drawing from one of the most highly ranked academic ecosystems; expanded international learning opportunities through Arizona State University and the ASU–Cintana Alliance, which now spans 35 innovative universities worldwide; and a range of cost-efficient pathway options leading to internationally recognized degrees, available both on campus and online.
The collaboration provides students with a highly differentiated education centered on academic strategies that would elevate opportunities for student success—global immersion, real-world experiential learning, AI-enabled learning modalities, advanced and immersive facilities as well as digital mastery.
Global education for a powerhouse region
Founded in January 2006, Mapúa MCL was established to bring the Mapúa legacy of excellence in education to Southern Luzon. The institution’s location in the region brings it closer to the industrial sector, which provides students with valuable opportunities for industry immersion and professional development at established corporations. Over the years, Mapúa MCL has also achieved impressive success including 100% passing rates in several licensure and certification examinations, and high employment rates of graduates which are all contributing factors on Mapúa MCL securing its ranking as the third HEI (higher educational institution) in CALABARZON. It holds a three (3) QS Stars overall rating (2024-2026) and a five-star rating for employability while being a part of the THE (Times Higher Education) Impact Rankings 2025 and ranking in the WURI (World University Rankings for Innovation) 2026 Global Top 500 Innovative Universities.
The Mapúa MCL and ASU collaboration provides alignment with the global skills, knowledge, and talent that CALABARZON needs. The region remains to be the industrial hub of the Philippines[3] as well as the top sending region of OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers)[4]. With global education at hand, opportunities in the local areas and across the world abound for its students and learners.
Through this comprehensive collaboration with ASU, students at Mapúa MCL can now access globally benchmarked education without leaving CALABARZON, armed with ASU’s academic content and innovative learning environment embedded directly within the local experience.
Empowering Mapúa MCL students for global careers
The Mapúa MCL and ASU comprehensive collaboration transforms the learner experience across multiple dimensions. It embeds ASU-aligned academic content and innovation frameworks across Mapúa MCL’s undergraduate programs, strengthening academic rigor, ensuring relevance to emerging industries, and advancing digital and AI (artificial intelligence)-enabled pedagogy across disciplines.
In parallel, students will gain access to structured global pathway opportunities, including dual degree programs, accelerated master’s options, and international mobility experiences with ASU. These pathways are being progressively developed to expand global exposure while preserving the accessibility and continuity of a local education.
Through the collaboration, Mapúa MCL students gained access to ASU global certificates and microcredentials. These can lead not only to learning experiences beyond borders but also to exciting global career opportunities.
The enhanced collaboration also covers innovation and AI integration. AI is extensively integrated across curricula, leveraging ASU’s AI frameworks, best practices, and pilot programs in digital learning and innovation. Through knowledge exchange and shared innovation models, Mapúa strengthens its AI-enabled pedagogy and prepares students for industries being reshaped by emerging technologies.
This partnership also encompasses faculty, research, and industry engagement. Multidisciplinary faculty and student exchanges are set to elevate teaching quality and deepen research capabilities. Joint research initiatives, enabled through ASU and the ASU–Cintana network, will accelerate innovation and strengthen industry relevance – advancing Mapúa’s role in national development.
“Mapúa and ASU remain committed to our role in developing and equipping globally competitive, future-ready graduates who would thrive in this fast-evolving world. We’d like to think of it as raising a future generation of leaders grounded in excellence and global readiness. Mapúa MCL, in collaboration with ASU, is in a very strategic location since CALABARZON is a premier industrial hub of the country and most of the global workers come from this region. We are in an ideal position to produce globally competitive and career-ready professionals who would have the heart for nation-building and in making meaningful contributions to society,” Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, President of Mapúa University, stated.
Mapúa MCL is a member of Mapúa Education Group and iPeople, Inc. – the education joint venture between majority owner House of Investments (the listed holding company of the Yuchengco Group of Companies) and Ayala Corporation. The two conglomerates share an empowering common goal to make world-class education accessible to as many Filipino students as possible.
