Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC), together with IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and McDonald’s, has launched Step Up sa Pangarap – a pioneering movement that brings together the academe and industries to celebrate, support, and empower working students across the country.
Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, President & CEO of Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mindanao discuss the landscape of the education sector that inspired Mapua Malayan Digital College 
In the photo (R-L): Ms. Jezzel Garcia, MMDC Working Student and Ms. Karen Davila, Multi-Awarded Broadcast Journalist and Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum- discuss the life of a working student in MMDC and its opportunities 
A new partnership begins between Mapua Malayan Digital Colleges and McDonald’s Philippines. In the photo (R-L): Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, President & CEO of Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mindanao, Adi Timbol, Corporate Communications Director of McDonald’s Philippines, Jenny Chua, Mapua Malayan Digital College Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, Engr. Dennis Tablante, Mapua Malayan Digital College Executive Director 
A new partnership begins between Mapua Malayan Digital Colleges and IBPAP. In the photo (R-L): Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, President & CEO of Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mindanao, Ms. Celeste Ilagan, Chief Policy and Regulatory Affairs Officer of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Jenny Chua, Mapua Malayan Digital College Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, Engr. Dennis Tablante, Mapua Malayan Digital College Executive Director 
In the photo (R-L): How MMDC is making it work for its students – a panel discussion with Ms. Karen Davila with Engr. Dennis Tablante, Mapua Malayan Digital College Executive Director, Jenny Chua, Mapua Malayan Digital College Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, Dr. Jonathan Dayao, Vice President for IT and Administration, and Mr. Noel Torregoza, Instructional System Design Director of MMDC
Formally unveiled at a media event held at 205 Coffee and Cocktails in Bonifacio Global City on February 16, 2023, Step Up sa Pangarap kicks off with a series of stories of working students to inspire the community.
The main highlight of the campaign will gather working students from across the country for a three-day virtual summit to be held on May 10-12, 2023. Featuring a roster of speakers composed of industry leaders, influencers, and former working students who found success in their respective careers, the event will empower the working student community on how to achieve their goals and provide them with access to coaches and mentors who can help further prepare attendees for the real world.
The online summit will particularly discuss three key areas where our working students can be successful:
· Step Up sa Career – A deep discussion on the skills to acquire and steps to be taken towards further career development
· Step Up sa Buhay – A comprehensive talk that tackles the importance of work-school-life balance and how to achieve it
· Step Up sa Pera – An in-depth session that covers all the bases of how individuals can stay on top of their finances and make smart investments towards their future
Watch out for the full lineup of inspiring and noteworthy speakers.
Following the summit, the movement challenges working students on how they can best apply their learnings. Participants will be encouraged to join the “Step Up sa Tagumpay” Awards by submitting entries on how they plan to apply their learnings from the virtual summit and“Step Up” in their careers, lives, and finances. The most compelling stories stand to win MMDC scholarships and other awards at the awards night to be held online on May 25, 2023.
The Challenges of Today’s Working Students
According to a report from the World Economic Forum, data analytics, information security, software development, and business development are among the top industries where the demand for professionals will grow significantly by 2025. While these statistics are indicative of emerging workforce trends brought on by rapid digitalization across the world, many real-world challenges stand in the way of today’s learners hoping to begin or advance their careers. Skills gaps exist between industry needs and the technical skills that graduates have, and in the case of non-graduate undergrad employees, options for career advancement remain limited due to the lack of a college diploma.
In a survey conducted by MMDC through TheNerve on what students looked for in a college, career opportunities emerged as the top reason for potential returnees to enroll. While many working adults may express the desire to finish their college education, factors such as the inability to balance work, personal life, and school, the lack of time to commute to a physical campus, and the availability of funding prevent them from doing so.
“At McDonald’s, we are committed in fostering a working environment where everyone is supported, empowered, and enabled to reach their full potential. It starts with job security. As a company with close to 50,000 employees, and the first QSR that has practiced direct hiring (no contractualization) since we began operations in 1981, we have seen how this, together with development opportunities like the Step Up sa Pangarap Program, allows our crew to grow and develop to become future leaders. At McDonald’s, we believe that providing the best employee experience results in a better experience for all.” says McDonald’s Philippines Corporate Relations Director Adi Hernandez.
A Better College Experience for Future Working Students
For many Filipino working adults, getting a chance to finish a college degree to become more competitive in the workplace might seem like a goal that’s out of reach. With so many responsibilities to juggle and so little time to spare between them, going to a physical campus to sit in class and devoting the energy to study seems almost close to impossible.
Recognizing these and other considerations of working students, as well as the growing opportunities in today’s in-demand industries, MMDC leads the celebration of our working students across the country. Together with IBPAP and its employer partners, MMDC is rallying a community of employers and industry associations to ensure that working students become successful in the fields of Business Administration and Information Technology.
“The Philippines is a global leader in IT-BPM services for a reason—the Filipino talent,” said Celeste Ilagan, IBPAP Chief Policy & Regulatory Affairs Officer. “In turn, the sector has become one of their biggest champions and through the years, we’ve worked with the government and the academe to ensure that they are provided every opportunity to develop their skills and remain competitive. With our goal to grow Philippine IT-BPM into a US$59 billion industry with 2.5 million full-time employees (FTEs), the plan is to further accelerate our efforts in talent development through more initiatives like Step Up sa Pangarap and stronger collaborations with partners like MMDC.”
Grounded on the Mapúan brand of academic excellence, MMDC’s innovative Projects, Problems, and Cases educational model and digital-first approach to learning are designed for flexibility. This model also equips students with real-world experience as well as the technical and soft skills needed in the workforce. All these at a very affordable and competitive price to ensure that the majority of the working students will have access to this relevant and effective learning experience.
“Returning students need to understand, just getting a degree may not help you. Writing a paper about theories from 50 years ago isn’t going to open new career opportunities. Instead, getting a degree that delivers competencies in demand today and tomorrow will unlock opportunities to further one’s career. As an outcomes based and digital-first college, the MMDC educational model was designed to be flexible and accessible to address the factors keeping potential working students from coming back to school, said Derrick Latreille, Chief Learning Officer of MMDC and Co-founder of Ayala Education. “Since we opened our doors, almost 60% of our learners are currently working students. Through this campaign, we aim to empower more potential returnees across the country to pursue a college degree that will make a difference in their career, at an institution that supports their needs.”
