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UPM Institutions launches innovative postgraduate engineering courses

Mindanao University inaugurates three flexible graduate engineering programs in partnership with University of Diliman, aiming to alleviate the STEM skillsshortage in Mindanao region.

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UPM Institutions launches innovative postgraduate engineering courses

In a daring stride towards regional upliftment and educational equality, the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) has unleashed a trio of revolutionary graduate engineering programs designed to obliterate the STEM talent shortage plaguing Mindanao.

This groundbreaking endeavour grants local professionals and students a coveted opportunity to indulge in top-tier, advanced education without ever setting foot outside the island. Officially debuted on April 30th, 2025, at the swanky Pinnacle Hotel and Suites in Davao City, the innovative programs are:

  • Master of Science in Civil Engineering
  • Master of Science in Industrial Engineering
  • Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering

Commencing in the Academic Year 2025-2026, these cutting-edge courses have been instigated via a groundbreaking partnership with the UP Diliman College of Engineering.

To ensure maximum accessibility and convenience, the programs will be delivered using a HyFlex learning format-a harmonious fusion of real-time online instruction and occasional in-person sessions, making it a perfect fit for busy professionals and students hailing from various corners of Mindanao.

As UP President, lawyer Angelo A. Jimenez, placed it, "Here lies an unparalleled chance for students in Mindanao to delve into their postgraduate studies, all without sacrificing a relocation to Manila or other regions." This move aligns perfectly with UP's mission in making its lauded education more readily available to Filipino learners, irrespective of their circumstances.

Mindanao, despite boasting a sizable population and burgeoning economic potential, only houses a paltry 12% of the nation's engineering students, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Amidst this backdrop, the Philippines is confronted with an impending crisis-a critical shortage of STEM professionals, with engineers estimated to constitute nearly 570,000 of the deficit by 2025.

UPMin Chancellor, Dr. Lyre Anni E. Murao, underscored the deeper purpose behind these programs, stating, "UP Mindanao is uniquely primed to address this predicament. By collaborating closely with our UP Diliman partners and other UP System constituents, we're not just expanding access; we're guaranteeing that Mindanaoan students receive the same rigorous and inspiring education synonymous with UP."

These programs also align with national and regional goals such as infrastructure development, climate resilience, and sustainable industrialization. As Mindanao's industries expand, the demand for engineers skilled not only in traditional fields but also in emerging sectors like renewable energy, smart infrastructure, and sustainable systems is consistently on the rise.

Murao also spotlighted the transformative power of education in underserved communities. Fresh from a week-long sojourn in Sulu, where UP is forging ties with local authorities and the Mindanao State University, she shared her experiences. "Sulu, like many other Mindanao pockets, mirrors both the challenges and immense potential for reinvention. Witnessing the region's drive for progress and the unmet needs within these communities firsthand, we are convinced that education is the key to empowering Mindanaoans and building a stronger, fairer, and more sustainable Philippines."

As UP Mindanao continues to forge academic alliances with other UP campuses and regional institutions, Murao emphasized that these new engineering programs signify a long-delayed shift, viewing Mindanao not as a peripheral region but as a pivotal force in shaping the country's future.

[1]https://www.upd.edu.ph/news/2025/04/up-diliman-partners-with-upmin-to-launch-three-graduate-programs[2]https://www.upd.edu.ph/news/2025/04/up-mindanao-launches-three-graduate-programs-in-industrial-engineering[3]https://www.up.edu.ph/news/2025/04/upmin-to-offer-three-graduate-degree-programs-in-industrial-engineering[4]https://www.up.edu.ph/news/2025/04/hyflex-program-to-be-implemented-for-three-graduate-programs-at-up-mindanao

  1. The University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) has launched three graduate engineering programs in partnership with the UP Diliman College of Engineering, underscoring an effort to bridge the STEM talent shortage in Mindanao.
  2. These groundbreaking programs, which include the Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Master of Science in Industrial Engineering, and Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering, will be delivered via a HyFlex learning format, allowing students from diverse parts of Mindanao to participate.
  3. By offering top-tier, advanced education online, UPMin aims to increase accessibility and convenience for local professionals and students, thereby reducing the need for relocation to cities like Manila.
  4. The Philippines faces an impending crisis due to a critical shortage of STEM professionals, with engineers estimated to constitute nearly 570,000 of the deficit by 2025.
  5. The new engineering programs align with national and regional goals such as infrastructure development, climate resilience, and sustainable industrialization, and they also address the current gap in Mindanao, which houses only 12% of the nation's engineering students.
  6. These programs also contribute to education and self-development in underserved communities, as demonstrated by UPMin Chancellor, Dr. Lyre Anni E. Murao's recent trip to Sulu.
  7. The launch of these graduate engineering programs signifies a long-delayed shift in viewing Mindanao not as a peripheral region but as a pivotal force in shaping the country's future, contributing to its education-and-self-development and online-education landscape.
Mindanao University introduces three innovative Flexible Graduate Engineering programs in collaboration with Diliman University, aiming to address the STEM skill deficit in Mindanao.
Mindanao branch of UP introduces three fresh HyFlex graduate engineering courses in collaboration with UP Diliman, aiming to address the STEM skills shortage in Mindanao.
UP Mindanao introduces three new collaborative engineering programs with UP Diliman, aimed at boosting STEM talent in Mindanao via the HyFlex learning approach.

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