By Maria Kathrina Antonio

To strengthen digital upskilling of future information technology professionals, Mariano Marcos State University and Accenture, Inc. have forged a partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement signing ceremony held on May 29, at the Center for Flexible Learning.
Signed by MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis and Ambe Tierro, Country Managing Director of Accenture, Inc., the three-year partnership includes on-the-job training or internship opportunities, campus recruitment activities, learning sessions, and various seminars and workshops for students.

Accenture Inc. also donated 30 laptops to MMSU. This is part of Accenture's ongoing commitment to fostering academic excellence and equipping students with the tools needed for success in the digital age.

Dr. Agrupis expressed her deep gratitude and commitment to the new partnership, highlighting its significance in preparing students for the real world. “This partnership is a testament to our enduring commitment to equip our students with the necessary skills for the digital era. It underscores our shared vision and mutual respect,” she said.

Ms. Tierro said Accenture Inc. is honored to be partnering with MMSU. She also stated that like Dr. Agrupis, Accenture Inc. is also a dreamer, particularly when it comes to human capital. “If we work together, we will achieve great things,” she added.

For her part, Marianne Castillo, managing director of Accenture, Inc., highlighted that the collaboration is significant in bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application, “MMSU has always been our partner. This day is a very special day for us because our mutually beneficial relationship between academia and industry continues,” she said.

Present at the signing ceremony were Amy Castro, HR People Advisor of Accenture, Inc.; Mon Valentin, Site PMO of Accenture, Inc.; Dr. Prima Fe Franco, MMSU vice president for academic affairs; Prof. Emil James Tanagon, MMSU director of the students affairs and services office; Dr. Geraldeen Pascual, MMSU chief of career hub; Atty. Ma. Saniata Marcos, MMSU legal officer; Dr. Marlina Lino, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); Dr. Angelina Abrojena, dean of the College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (CBEA); Dr. Andrea Garcia, faculty member of the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CCIS); and other staff from Accenture, Inc.
On May 22, academic staff from Mariano Marcos State University participated in a workshop with Accenture that focused on curriculum development. The event aimed to strengthen Accenture's collaboration with MMSU by integrating their programs into the curricula of specific colleges, including CBEA, CAS, CCIS, and College of Health Sciences.

With over 200 locations worldwide, Accenture, Inc. is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments, and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale.