What does a globally competitive education look like? A look into a top-tier educational collaboration that is lighting the way. 

For those looking for a better life, the education we choose is the first step. Selecting a university is a monumental decision, especially for students with global aspirations. As jobs now require      employees to work across different time zones alongside people from different countries, a global workforce first demands global education. But what does that look like in reality? What does it mean to be globally competitive and ready to take on this new era of work?

According to Mr. Hernan Luis, a 12-year professor who’s taught Hospitality Management and Tourism Management      and now serves as a faculty member at the ET Yuchengco College of Business, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL), a globally competitive education goes beyond meeting international academic standards.

“It fosters critical and adaptive thinking to excel across various global platforms. It is characterized by its emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches, cultural flexibility, and innovative problem-solving in diverse team settings,” says Luis. However, education at the local and global level also requires real-world applications for students to be effective.

“A truly competitive education also includes extensive practical experiences that are applicable worldwide, preparing students to seize global opportunities,” says Luis.

Asst. Prof. Rocky Gabatin, who’s been teaching Business Administration for five years     , agrees. Gabatin adds that it’s about letting students use their knowledge across different countries and systems despite cultural constraints. Adding, “It’s lovely to see a natural formation of students across different backgrounds trying to solve complex real-world problems.”

In today’s job market, companies seek graduates  equipped to meet global demands. As a result, educational institutions have a responsibility to prepare students for this reality. It’s important for learners to have the chance to connect with and be exposed to the world during their university years in order to broaden their perspectives.

Mapúa MCL is one such university that’s benefitted from collaborating with Arizona State University (ASU), the #1 university in the US for innovation for the 9^th straight year, ranked by U.S. News and World Report 2024. The collaboration integrates ASU’s curriculum into Mapúa MCL’s business and health sciences programs. Luis says, “By integrating research and development projects into the curriculum, we prepare      our students to excel in their studies and future careers by embedding essential skills such as leadership, teamwork, and ethical decision-making. These are the keys to standing out in today’s competitive job market.” He adds that the new programs offered by Mapúa MCL are a result of utilizing ASU’s inclusive and innovation-driven educational model to help students achieve not only academic excellence but also critical thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills.      

For students like James Marco Q. Molina, finding the right course is all about pursuing their passion and interests. As a first-year Hospitality Management major in Mapúa MCL, the course allows him to grow and provide “delightful experiences,”      something he is truly passionate about. James values how his course extends his passion for hospitality beyond the Philippines’ borders. Through Mapúa MCL’s partnership with ASU for business and health sciences, James gains access to a “wealth of resources and opportunities” and can engage and collaborate with students from around the world, bridging the knowledge gap. 

The ASU collaboration is also what has attracted Stephanie M. Negrillo to study at Mapúa MCL. Now in her second year majoring in Marketing Management at Mapúa MCL, she says that having access to programs in collaboration with ASU has made the offerings much richer. She says it has “created a huge positive impact by providing us students globally competitive experience, knowledge, skills, and opportunities.”

“Letting students see that difference makes them appreciate their personal histories better while allowing themselves to value the traditions of other cultures,” shares Gabatin on how an international collaboration fosters and develops students. “This open-mindedness makes them bolder when facing uncertainties when they graduate—and let’s face it: taking risks is a necessary process to success.” 

Beyond the academic results, Gabatin also says that the ASU collaboration has also served as a game-changer in encouraging students to participate and engage in their studies more. “I noticed that students now tend to have a longer attention span throughout the course, especially when they experience different professors within the same course. It generates healthy debates, which in turn      fosters better learning as they can effectively dissect the strengths and weaknesses of their own approaches in relation to others.” This is a           testament to how catering to the needs and demands of students today can greatly affect how they perform. 

“The Mapúa MCL collaboration with ASU has notably uplifted our campus life, particularly through the introduction of Global Signature Courses via our Global Classroom. A highlight has been the Mapúa Masterclass in Business Leadership Series, which has enriched campus culture and engaged business students in unparalleled ways,” says Luis. 

As education around the world continues to evolve, this collaboration centered on business and health sciences between Mapúa MCL and Arizona State University is already showing immediate positive effects on not only the students’ performance but also the optimism of its faculty. With more plans in store, there is hope that local students like those in Mapúa will not only achieve their dreams but will know that they can reach for even more in the future. via Brandon De Luna