Mariano Marcos
State University

CHED-supported iPath-Pro kicks off as MMSU welcomes first cohort of microcredential scholars

By Criztalene Victorio

Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) officially launched the “Industry-Based Microcredential Pathways Toward Graduate Programs in Probiotics and Functional Foods for Sustainable Health and Nutrition” (iPath-Pro) and welcomed its first cohort of 39 microcredential scholars on September 26.

Supported by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) under its Higher Education Upskilling and Study for the Advancement of Staff and Faculty (HUSAY) program, iPath-Pro aims to equip scholars with specialized knowledge and practical skills in probiotics, functional foods, biotechnology, and nutrition to advance health and sustainable food production.

During their virtual orientation and program onboarding, Dr. Doreen Domingo, iPath-Pro Project Leader, explained that the program offers flexible learning modalities through modular microcredentials designed to enhance specialized competencies and allow scholars to earn credits toward graduate programs.

This initiative featured around three domains of specializations, including: Applied Biology, focusing on microbial genomics and bioanalytics; Pharmaceutical Technology, centered on natural product discovery and formulation; and Food Innovation, Nutrition, and Health, stressing sustainable food systems and quality standards.

During the orientation, project personnel and institutional and industry partners discussed the program’s rationale, objectives, and implementation while outlining the scholars’ roles, responsibilities, and commitments throughout the program.

After the MOA signing last year, CHED Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis promised continued support for MMSU's initiative, emphasizing the importance of improving higher education personnel and promoting specialized learning opportunities.

MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. also expressed gratitude to CHED for its continued partnership with the university in advancing workforce development and academic innovation.

The 39 university scholars are set to undergo training under the iPath-Pro program to further enhance their knowledge and skills in their respective specializations. (𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘑𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘍𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘢)