X marks new chapter in Mapúa education

Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo

Mapúa University is expanding and deepening its engagement not just with its students, but also other learners wanting to reskill and upskill, and everybody else who wants to be lifelong learners.

As the university marks its 100th anniversary, it launched Mapúa X, a streaming education platform that will provide both students and teachers greater access to resources that will enhance learning and instructional skills.

Mapúa X is described as “a catalog or streaming platform for education [that] brings a fresh and innovative approach to learning, mirroring the ease of access and variety [of] streaming services.”

The platform will also offer online programs that enable professionals and nonprofessionals to upgrade knowledge and expertise in their respective fields, even upskill and/or reskill to respond to changing demands in workplaces.

Programs will also be available to lifelong learners who may want to acquire skills or knowledge that can make them more productive or enhance the quality of their lives.

Mapúa X offers a diverse selection of educational content, from technology and engineering to business and creative arts.

For this trendsetting endeavor, Mapúa has partnered with Anthology, an education technology resource company that offers a suite of solutions for higher education institutions. Its tech solutions are designed to enhance learning experiences, streamline administrative processes and ensure that educational content is engaging and effective.

Mapúa University president Dodjie Maestrecampo says the new streaming service “will increase student access [to learning] resources and reduce barriers to academic achievements.”

Content will be interactive and accessible through multimedia. Mapúa will also make it very engaging.

Mapúa X, Maestrecampo adds, “will cater to a wide range of learners” from professionals wanting to learn new skills or upgrade their competencies to students studying for degrees and life-long learners.

Accessibility will be ensured, allowing users to visit the site using any digital device, including mobile phones.

Samuel Tang

Samuel Tang, Anthology country manager, says a mobile application can be downloaded by any student and courses can be viewed offline even when there is no internet service.

“Through Anthology’s LMS (learning management system), we’re able to make Mapúa X user-friendly while delivering high-quality educational content,” Tang adds.

Tang explains why Mapúa, a leading higher education institution in technology and science, has to partner with Anthology for X. The education technology company, he says, “is uniquely positioned to allow institutions to grow and scale at their own pace [by offering] solutions that [go] beyond traditional teaching and learning.”

Flexible, inclusive

Mapúa uses the Blackboard LMS that is easy to use and has modern interface and innovative features, such as the Generative AI (artificial intelligence)-Design Assistant. It supports the vision of Mapúa X, Tang says.

The LMS that Mapúa X uses allows students to navigate their courses easily, access resources, submit assignments and talk to their professors, among other things.

“Our collaboration with Anthology allows us to use a training and development manager approach built within a robust LMS platform,” Maestrecampo says. Mapúa X will allow users to continue their education, professional development and community enrichment without enrolling on campus. They can self-enroll in courses, earn credentials and access previous, present and future courses from anywhere at any time.

Ericson Dimaunahan

Maestrecampo says Mapúa X will start by offering courses under existing programs. The platform will then be used for continuing education programs, certification and other short and professional advancement courses.

The university president notes that, in the era of digital transformation, “workplaces are searching for agile, entrepreneurial professionals who can quickly adapt and pivot in a very competitive and dynamic economy.”

Learning institutions have to move beyond traditional learning methods and adopt new approaches that will better prepare students for volatile work environments.

He adds that, through Mapúa X, they offer free courses as part of corporate social responsibility initiatives. Junior and senior high school teachers will have access to resources on effective teaching practices and other materials that can improve their instructional skills.

Mapúa X also aims to increase access to higher education by providing people who lack the financial means, face geographical challenges, or have limited access to technology the means to pursue their studies by removing some of the barriers.

“The education system must prioritize flexibility, inclusivity and alignment with various industry demands,” Maestrecampo stresses. “Our goal is not only to provide learners from diverse backgrounds with access to education but also to ensure their success by [equipping them with] competencies and skills that are highly sought-after in the global job market. To accomplish this, we require a platform that enables learning beyond the constraints of traditional campus-based programs.” — CONTRIBUTED