Mapúa Education Group and Arizona State University (ASU) announced the expansion of their groundbreaking academic partnership to globalize Philippine higher education on February 27, 2026.
Initially focused on business and health sciences, the expanded collaboration now becomes the first and only comprehensive academic partnership between a leading Philippine education group—the Mapúa Education Group—and a top-ranked global university, Arizona State University, ranked #1 in the U.S. for innovation¹, and #1 in the U.S. and top 10 worldwide for global impact in research, outreach and stewardship.²
With the academic partnership’s shift to a comprehensive collaboration, all Mapúa students—across all undergraduate and graduate programs in all Mapúa schools (马普阿大学, Mapúa Malayan College Laguna, Mapúa Malayan College Mindanao, and Mapúa Malayan Digital College)—will now have access to world-class global education through:
- High-quality courses enhanced by instructional content from ASU’s vast repository of top ranked academic programs.
- Extensive international student experience opportunities with ASU and its rapidly growing ASU-Cintana Alliance, which currently includes 35 of forward looking and innovative universities worldwide.
- Numerous cost-effective pathway options leading to international degrees, delivered both onsite and online.
A Partnership of Globally Ranked Leaders
Mapúa University is ranked #1 in the Philippines in Engineering, Computer Science, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences, and is in the Top 6% of global universities according to Times Higher Education.
Together, the Mapúa Schools and Arizona State University combine academic excellence, innovation, and global reputation—setting a new benchmark for collaboration in Philippine higher education.
A Fully Integrated, Student-Centric Global Journey
The expanded partnership transforms the learner experience across multiple dimensions:
World-Class Content Integration
ASU’s globally benchmarked academic content and innovation frameworks are embedded across Mapúa’s undergraduate and post-graduate programs. This strengthens academic rigor, ensures curriculum relevance to emerging industries, and advances digital and AI-enabled pedagogy across disciplines.
Global Learning Pathways
Students gain structured progression pathways to ASU programs, including dual degree, accelerated master’s options, and mobility opportunities through Arizona State University. These pathways expand global exposure while maintaining local accessibility.
Innovation and AI Integration
Artificial intelligence is extensively integrated across curricula, leveraging ASU’s AI frameworks, best practices, and pilot programs in digital learning and innovation. Through knowledge exchange and shared innovation models, Mapúa strengthens its AI-enabled pedagogy and prepares students for industries being reshaped by emerging technologies.
Faculty, Research, and Industry Collaboration
Multi-disciplinary faculty and student exchange deepen teaching excellence and research capability. Joint research initiatives and collaboration through ASU and the ASU-Cintana network accelerate research output and industry-relevant innovation, strengthening Mapúa’s contribution to national development.
Advancing Inclusive Growth and Impact
The partnership expands access to globally benchmarked education across diverse learner segments.
Mapúa offers accessible, hybrid, and fully online degree pathways, as well as programs tailored for working professionals and lifelong learners. The integration spans multiple disciplines across the Mapúa Education Group.
Key impact initiatives include:
- Establishment of a Green College, benchmarking against ASU’s Rob Walton College of Global Futures School of Sustainability
- Accelerated research collaboration and global knowledge exchange
- Greater student engagement in addressing sustainability, technology, and societal challenges
A New Chapter in Globalizing Philippine Education
“This partnership reflects our commitment to elevating Philippine education through globally benchmarked standards,” said Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, President of Mapúa University.
“By integrating global expertise, digital innovation, and future-focused curricula across our campuses, we are preparing Filipino learners to compete and lead on the world stage” Dr. Maestrecampo added.
Michael M. Crow, President of Arizona State University, added: “We are excited that Mapúa is advancing to the level of comprehensive partner. As a comprehensive, broadly scoped institution, we look forward to working together through our Cintana relationship to help Mapúa achieve its aspirations and to support the Philippines, together with its allies, including the United States, in moving forward.”
The Mapúa–ASU partnership signals a meaningful evolution in how Philippine education institutions collaborate internationally—moving beyond traditional exchanges toward deeper academic integration and sustained impact.
Mapúa Education Group’s Mapúa University is the flagship university of iPeople, Inc. – the education joint venture between majority owner House of Investments (the listed holding company of the Yuchengco Group of Companies) and Ayala Corporation. The two conglomerates share an empowering common goal to make world-class education accessible to as many Filipino students as possible.
About Mapúa University. Mapúa University is the country’s premier engineering and technological school and one of the best universities in the world. It is among the top 6% of the world’s higher educational institutions, and one of only six Philippine universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (WUR) 2025. It is a Quacquarelli Symonds-rated 4 Star institution and among the top 100 universities in Southeast Asia. Mapúa University is one of the iPeople schools, a Yuchengco-Ayala education partnership, providing first class education for a century through academically excellent programs in Engineering and Sciences, Architecture and Design, Information Technology, Communication and Media Studies, and Senior High School. Mapúa also provides access to international education in Business and Management and Health Sciences through its collaboration with Arizona State University, the most innovative university in the US. Learn more about Mapúa University at https://www.Mapúa.edu.ph/.
Arizona State University, ranked No. 1 “Most Innovative School” in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 11 years in succession, has forged the model for a New American University. Repeatedly ranked No. 1, ASU has topped more than 30 lists in the last three years: No. 1 in the U.S. for global impact (Times Higher Education) and No. 1 in the U.S. for sustainable practices (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education). ASU is a comprehensive public research institution, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves. ASU operates on the principles that learning is a personal and original journey for each student; that they thrive on experience and that the process of discovery cannot be bound by traditional academic disciplines. Through innovation and a commitment to accessibility, ASU has drawn pioneering researchers to its faculty even as it expands opportunities for qualified students, attracting some of the highest-quality students from all 50 states and more than 130 nations.
¹ U.S. News & World Report, 11 consecutive years, 2016–2026
² Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, 6 consecutive years, 2020–2025