Mapúa in a time of knowledge explosion and globalization
To respond to the call of the times has always been one of the commitments of Mapúa Institute of Technology. For more than nine decades, the Institute has proven time and again that it is at the forefront of engineering education, continuously leading its counterparts toward an advanced and accomplished future.
In 1925, a young architect by the name of Tomas Mapúa opened a night school in a rented portion of a building in Carriedo Street, Quiapo, Manila. The night school, which initially had 75 students and 15 teachers, was a response to a time when the Philippines was busy and engrossed in nation building but lacked the engineers and architects for it.
Ninety-two years later, standing as a premier engineering and technological school in the country, Mapúa continues to respond—this time to the ever-changing landscape of the world. Mapúa’s run for more than nine decades is testament to how the Institute is continuously adapting to the times and will continue to do so in the years to come.
Looking ahead, Mapúa celebrates its 92nd year with the theme “Future Mapúa: Paving the way towards a digital, research-driven, outcomes-based, international domain (DROID)” from January 23 to 28. The theme fully encapsulates the Institute’s commitment to develop and bolster Mapúa’s world-class quality of education.
“The theme provides a bird’s eye view on what Mapúa would be in the next ten years after it has achieved its development plans,” said Engr. Alejandro H. Ballado, Jr., dean of the School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering (EECE). The School of EECE is this year’s organizing committee for the Foundation Week. “In ten years, Mapúa shall be the leading university in terms of employing digital education, outcomes-based education, research development-and expansive global footprint.”
Aside from its rocketing repute in digital education, research, and outcomes-based education, Mapúa stays true to its mission to transmit, generate, and apply knowledge in order to provide solutions to problems worldwide.
DROID Conference
In line with the theme, the School of EECE opens the first Mapúa DROID Conference, which will highlight Mapúa’s objectives for the coming years. Selected faculty members from the different schools and departments will also share their best practices in terms of digitalization, research, outcomes-based education, and internationalization. The conference will be held on the fourth day of the foundation week, January 26.
“DROID is the driving force that will lead us to Mapúa’s vision of becoming one of the best universities in the world,” said Engr. Ballado.
DROID, a term coined by Mapúa president Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, summarizes the Institute’s response to globalization and to the explosion of knowledge.
“DROID stands for what Mapúa intends to fully become in the future,” Dr. Vea said. “It encapsulates our strategic objective, which emanate from our vision to join the ranks of the world’s best universities and our mission to transmit, generate, and apply knowledge,” said Dr. Vea.
The same day also marks The Cardinal Excellence Awards (TCEA), which is an annual recognition of the exemplary performances and achievements of Mapúans; the ETAN Quiz Show organized by the Honor Society of Mapúa; and a thanksgiving concert of the Mapúa Cardinal Singers.
Weeklong activities
According to Engr. Ballado, the Mapúa community should expect “a combination of exciting activities comprising technical events, conferences, seminars, and numerous academic and non-academic competitions.”
Just like last year, the weeklong celebration kicked off with the annual Mapúa Fun Run organized by the Central Student Council. The first day of the week will be marked with the Parade of Excellence wherein a mascot will represent each school or department. On the same day, a wreath laying ceremony will be held to honor the Institute’s founder, Don Tomas Mapúa. The opening ceremonies for the Don Tomas Cup, the annual basketball and volleyball competitions of different departments, will be held as well.
The second day of the celebration will include the Hernando Limsin Lecture Series, spearheaded by the Foundation of Outstanding Mapúans Inc. (FOMI). The lecture series will highlight current issues with significant impact on society. Engr. Freddie P. Yumang, Vice President of Refinery at Petron Corporation, and Engr. Rod Silvestre, President and Founder of Halchem Industrial Sales, Inc., will be the main speakers of the lecture who will discuss innovations in engineering and business.
The third day is a day of competitions, as the annual Math Wizard will be held along with a Literary Quiz Show, which will prompt students to read and develop an understanding of new cultures. A red carpet ceremony for this year’s Mr. and Ms. Cardinals will happen at Mapúa Makati, showcasing candidates of the different departments through beauty and excellence.
Mapúans will witness the beauty, grace, and wit of Mapúans at the Mr. and Ms. Cardinals pageant night on January 27, the fifth day of the weeklong celebration. The Physics Society of Mapúa meanwhile will test the skills of students in demonstrating the laws of physics through a series of activities.
On the last day, the Institute will be having an open campus event for prospective students to learn more about the many facets of the Institute and to have a first-hand experience of the student life as a Mapúan. The last event of the Foundation Week is the Alumni Night organized by the National Association of Mapúa Alumni Inc. (NAMA).
Various activities prepared by Mapúa’s different student organizations are also lined up for the whole week.
“Knowledge is exploding, and the world is shrinking.”