Aboitiz Economic Estates and Batangas State University formally inducted industry leaders into a joint Industry Advisory Council during an Induction and Onboarding Program held in July 2026 at the Talent Edge Hub inside LIMA Estate in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas. The move deepens collaboration between industry and academia to strengthen workforce readiness and align university programs with real-world industry needs.
The Industry Advisory Council will serve as a strategic partner to Batangas State University, the National Engineering University. Its members will help shape academic programs so that graduates develop the competencies, technical skills, and professional attributes required by employers. The Council will also keep curricula responsive to changing industry standards, emerging technologies, and societal demands.
Council members will meet regularly with university officials to share insights on workforce trends, required skills, new technologies, and workplace practices. These inputs will guide curriculum development, program enhancement, and broader workforce preparation efforts. Beyond advice, members will support industry mentorships, guest lectures, experiential learning opportunities, and workplace exposure programs that give students direct contact with professional environments.
Rafael P. Fernandez de Mesa, President and CEO of Aboitiz Economic Estates and Aboitiz Land, said stronger links between education and industry are essential for future talent. “Preparing talent for the future requires stronger connections between education and industry. Through the Industry Advisory Council, companies can contribute directly to shaping learning experiences, developing relevant skills, and providing students with greater exposure to real-world industry environments. By bringing industry closer to education, we strengthen workforce readiness while helping build the talent pipeline needed to support long-term economic growth".
Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo, President of Batangas State University, described the Council as a structured channel for continuous program improvement. “The Industry Advisory Council creates a structured mechanism for industry to participate in the continuous enhancement of our academic programs. By bringing together leaders from key sectors, we gain valuable insights that help ensure our graduates develop the competencies, technical expertise, and professional attributes required by today’s workforce. These perspectives also help us keep our programs responsive to emerging industry developments and future skills requirements".
The Council brings together senior leaders from automotive manufacturing, consumer goods, food production, packaging, logistics, semiconductors, and industrial manufacturing. Participating companies include Yamaha, Furukawa, JTEKT, Proterial (formerly Hitachi Metals), Japan Tobacco International, Littelfuse, and Aice several of which operate inside LIMA Estate.
Arnel Recolizado, Chief Green Officer for Yamaha Motor Philippines, stressed the practical value of the partnership. “Building a future-ready workforce requires industry to play an active role in education. Through the Industry Advisory Council, we can help align learning with real-world workforce requirements while giving students greater exposure to the realities of modern manufacturing. This collaboration benefits both industry and society by helping develop skilled talent, expanding opportunities for young people, and strengthening the long-term competitiveness of the Philippine economy".
The Industry Advisory Council forms part of Talent Edge, Aboitiz Economic Estates’ workforce sustainability platform. Talent Edge aims to connect education, industry, and employment opportunities across the group’s economic estates.
The initiative also supports the development of the Batangas State University – LIMA Campus, designed as the Philippines’ first learning hub for industry-based learning. The planned 10-hectare campus sits inside LIMA Estate’s Industrial Hub and will give students direct access to operating factories, modern technologies, and professional workplaces. The interim facility is set to welcome its pioneering batch of 800 freshman engineering and engineering technology students in August 2026.
Also Read: Aboitiz Foods, DA Launch Digital Program to Modernize Farming
By placing the campus inside an active industrial estate, students will experience a seamless link between classroom learning and actual manufacturing environments. Educators will gain continuous industry feedback, while employers will help shape a reliable talent pipeline. The model seeks to reduce the traditional gap between academic training and workplace requirements.
As the Industry Advisory Council begins its work and the BatStateU LIMA Campus prepares to open, the partnership advances a practical approach in which education, employment, and industrial development reinforce one another. Through Talent Edge and the new campus, LIMA Estate is evolving into a working learning ecosystem that creates clearer pathways from education to employment and supports the long-term competitiveness of Philippine industry.
