^{In photo: (L-R) NEUST Head of Records Management Office Christopher Ladignon, NEUST College of Engineering Dean Jeric Aduna, MPA Executive Director Ian Chester Colorina, MPower First Vice President and Head Redel Domingo, MGEN Renewables President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Jordan, NEUST University President Rhodora R. Jugo, NEUST Vice President for Academic Affairs Feliciana Jacoba, and NEUST Chair of Mathematics Education Lorinda Pascual.}

Meralco Power Academy (MPA), the training and education arm of Meralco, is expanding its partnerships with universities as the power sector ramps up efforts to build a larger talent pool for the country’s growing renewable energy and power infrastructure projects.

MPA recently formalized separate agreements with Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology and De La Salle University to strengthen industry-academe collaboration through internships, curriculum enhancement, research initiatives, and technical training programs.

The academy signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding with NEUST and MGEN Renewables to support workforce development requirements tied to large-scale renewable energy projects, including the MTerra Solar development in Nueva Ecija.

The MTerra Solar project is being positioned as the world’s largest integrated solar and battery energy storage facility.

“This MOU represents not just an agreement on paper, but a long-term partnership built on trust and a shared vision toward our common goal of empowering the nation’s workforce,” NEUST President Rhodora R. Jugo said.

Under the partnership, MPA will roll out its PowerCamp internship program for qualified NEUST students, while MGEN Renewables will provide mentorship, structured internship roles, and career development opportunities.

NEUST, for its part, will align academic programs with industry competency requirements and oversee student development.

“Expanding our academic partnerships beyond Metro Manila aligns with the growth of Meralco’s broader business portfolio. By partnering with more universities, we can empower more students while creating strong entry points for new talent into the energy sector,” MPA Executive Director Ian Chester V. Colorina said.

MGEN Renewables President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Jordan said the partnership aims to help students access opportunities in the evolving energy industry.

“This partnership between our company-MGEN Renewables, MPA, and NEUST is rooted in a shared belief: Every student deserves the opportunity to discover their potential and step into a future where their skills, talents, and passions can change the world,” Jordan said.

Separately, MPA also signed an agreement with DLSU aimed at strengthening the university’s electrical engineering program through internships, faculty immersion activities, guest lectures, and collaborative research projects.

The initiative seeks to expose students and faculty members to real-world industry applications and emerging technologies in the power sector.

“This partnership is more than a formal agreement. It represents a shared responsibility to develop the next generation of engineers who will contribute to the reliability, sustainability, and innovation of the Philippine power sector,” DLSU Provost and Vice President for Academics Robert C. Roleda said.

MPA said the partnerships form part of its broader effort to help develop a future-ready workforce capable of supporting the country’s transition toward a more sustainable and resilient energy system.

“Partnerships like this help ensure that students and future professionals gain access to opportunities that prepare them to contribute meaningfully to the industry and to national development,” MGEN President and Chief Executive Officer and MPA Board of Trustee Emmanuel V. Rubio said.

What do you think about deeper industry-academe partnerships in addressing the Philippine power sector’s growing demand for skilled energy professionals?

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