Mapúa MCL underscores sustainability education to build a green workforce

PRESS RELEASE

EDUCATION

Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) placed sustainability education at the core of the discussions during the recently held “QS Spotlight Sessions: Sustainability in Higher Education” event. The QS Spotlight Sessions brings together university leaders from across the Asia-Pacific as a global platform for higher education institutions to showcase sustainability initiatives, share strategies with neighboring institutions, and foster partnerships.

During the session, Mapúa MCL centered on the topic “From Classroom to Green Workforce: Embedding Sustainable Building Standards into Higher Education for Green Talent Development.” The discussion highlighted the institution’s commitment to sustainability education, responsible campus development, and green workforce preparation. Leading the session were Mapúa MCL representatives and co-presenters Professor James Ronald O. Mesina, Vice President for External Linkages, Internationalization, and Transnational Education, and Ms. Ivana Ruth C. Vidal, Program Associate for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement. Joining the delegation is Engr. Maribel G. Songsong, Vice President for Academic Affairs.

According to Mesina and Vidal, Mapúa MCL’s Green Curriculum Integration ensures sustainability is embedded across academic and co-curricular experiences so that the institution can produce a generation of green workforce.

“Green talents or let’s call them the ‘green workforce,’ are professionals equipped with knowledge, skills and values to promote sustainability. We define green talents by knowledge through sustainability principles and environmental systems; skills through applied design, energy efficiency, and resource management; and values through ethical responsibility and global citizenship,” said Mesina.

Mapúa MCL consciously embeds sustainability in its programs through a Green Curriculum Integration Model. The integration model includes experiential-learning partnerships, faculty upskilling and development, applied learning (outcomes-based education), and curriculum mapping.

“With our curriculum mapping and applied learning (OBE), we make sure that apart from embedding sustainability in our programs, the capstone projects for our students include energy and resource efficiency goals. Our Architecture and Engineering students also collaborate on real-world sustainability challenges,” Vidal noted.

Mapúa MCL continues to strengthen sustainability-driven academic leadership in the global arena, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by supporting SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 13: Climate Action. This alignment emphasized the importance of including faculty development and upskilling in this endeavor.

“Our faculty members at Mapúa MCL undergo trainings on sustainability teaching and assessment. They also collaborate in local and international workshops across disciplines, and their research thrusts must be aligned with the UN SDGs so they can receive support for dissemination and publication,” Vidal added.

The institution’s integration model was supported by partnering with sustainable companies and organizations where students can gain real world exposure through internships and research.

The presentation noted the impact of sustainability education which ultimately results in producing graduates with industry-ready sustainability competencies, faculty members that exhibit greater confidence and expertise in teaching sustainability and strengthened stakeholder partnerships.

“Mapúa MCL’s approach transforms sustainability from a lesson within the walls of the classroom to an actual and lived practice. By embedding green standards in education, we cultivate professionals who are ready to design and build a sustainable future,” Mesina concluded.

To learn more about sustainable education and how it empowers the learning environment and a green future, visit https://mcl.edu.ph/.