By Jennielou Pigao

To intensify the skill sets of the MMSU Technology Business Incubator (TBI) workforce and MMSU students and faculty, the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and Wadhwani Operating Foundation (Wadhwani Fdn.) forged a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 28, at the Center for Flexible Learning.

Signed by MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis and the Southeast Asia regional director of Wadhwani Fdn., Dr. Lucrecio ‘Cris' Delgado, the MoU highlights the Wadhwani Entrepreneur Network (WEN) program which comprises 14 weeks of online and direct-to-faculty (D2F) entrepreneurship courses and three weeks of train the trainers (TOT) with succeeding refresher courses. Participants will have access to entrepreneurship tools, content, and networks, which could enhance their knowledge of lean startups and create a robust value proposition.

The program also features a self-service frictionless model for easy delivery of interactive content and webinars through the Wadhwani Technology Platform, recorded masterclasses by mentors and industry experts, video presentation case studies, open-source courses, booster clinics, and pitch days with assigned mentors. Facilitators and faculty members will also be assigned to assess the practice ventures.

Dr. Agrupis expressed her enthusiasm and commitment to the partnership with Wadhwani Fdn. She also reiterated the need to sustain and promote present and potential partnerships with the research and entrepreneurial aspects of the Promoting Research and Innovation to Strengthen Transformation of Industries and Enterprises (PRISTINE) program.

In his message, Dr. Delgado expressed his gratitude to MMSU for this partnership, hoping that this endeavor could inspire more student entrepreneurs and open more doors for other venture creation.

Also present during the signing ceremony were Dr. Prima Fe Franco, vice president for academic affairs, Dr. Marilou Lucas, director for extension; Dr. Mee Jay Domingo, director for internationalization, linkages, and partnerships; Prof. Armie Sabugo, MMSU TBI chief and Bannuar TBI project leader; and deans and department chairs from the College of Engineering, College of Computing and Information Sciences, College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy; College of Industrial Technology; and College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development.

Prof. Sabugo stated that this deal “promises to shape the future of entrepreneurship in the university”. She also said that this endeavor is helpful in enhancing the design thinking skills of MMSU students particularly in strengthening entrepreneurship and technology classes.

In April 2024 during his initial meeting with Dr. Agrupis and other MMSU officials, Dr. Delgado presented the diverse programs offered by Wadhwani Fdn., which include a self-paced learning application called IgniteX, an AI-generated program designed to equip student entrepreneurs with business skills.

Wadhwani Fdn., founded by Dr. Romesh Wadhwani in 2001, is driven by its mission of creating job opportunities through its four core initiatives: entrepreneurship, skilling, innovation and research, and government digital transformation.