Last June 23, 2025, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (Mapúa MCM), through its Office for Corporate Partnerships – Center for Career and Placement (OCP-CCP), hosted the Employer in the Classroom Program (ECP) titled Inside Dev Life: What We’ve Learned, What You Need to Know. The event, held at Room 405 of the Mapúa MCM Academic Building, brought together BS Computer Science students and seasoned professionals from the tech industry to inspire, guide, and prepare future developers for real-world careers in software development.
The ECP initiative is designed to provide students with firsthand insights and experiences from industry practitioners, aiming to bridge the gap between academic learning and the ever-evolving trends of the tech world. It also supports early career exploration and helps students understand the competencies and mindset required in tech-driven industries. Moreover, the program is a key effort in strengthening institutional partnerships with industry leaders.
The invited guest speakers from Ingenuity Global Consulting, Inc. include Mr. Nionel Ibarra, a Full Stack Developer, and Mr. Reymart Naupan, a Software Developer. Ingenuity Global Consulting Inc. also known as Ingenuity Software is an IT solutions company specializing in digital technologies and customer experience, delivering custom software through cutting-edge tools, best practices, and industry standards to align with clients’ business goals. Their talks focused on real-world challenges and the essential skills students must develop to thrive in the tech sector. Joining the event as a special guest was Ms. Charisse Leonar, Head of Marketing at Ingenuity Software.
“Start exploring. Start small but start early. As what Zig Ziglar says, ‘You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great,’” says Mr. Naupan, urging students to take the initiative in their personal and professional development.
Mr. Ibarra added a powerful reminder about preparation and adaptability in the tech field: “Time reveals priorities; integrity reveals character. If you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail. Always prepare, prepare, prepare, and prepare. There’s nothing wrong because in this day and age, everything can be learned. Everything can be prepared for, especially in the tech industry.”
The Employer in the Classroom Program aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing learning through industry engagement, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through career readiness efforts, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by fostering tech-driven competencies, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by building strong collaborations between the academic and corporate sectors.
Mapúa MCM continues to reinforce its commitment to producing globally competitive graduates by creating spaces where education and industry intersect—empowering students to navigate their careers with confidence, clarity, and purpose.