The Board of Investments (BOI) and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deepen collaboration between industry and academia, support the development of a skilled and competitive workforce, promote innovation, and better align educational outcomes with the talent requirements of the country’s priority industries.
BOI recognizes that a competitive investment environment requires a highly skilled and industry-ready workforce. Through partnerships with higher education institutions, BOI helps ensure that talent development, research, and innovation remain aligned with the requirements of priority sectors and emerging industries.
The partnership contributes to investment promotion by strengthening human capital, supporting industry-relevant research, and facilitating knowledge transfer between academia and industry. These are key elements in attracting and retaining investments in the Philippines.
Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo recognized the partnership not merely as a formal agreement but as the beginning of a long-term collaboration, built on a shared purpose, mutual trust, and a common vision for national progress.
“Today’s signing ceremony brings together two institutions with a shared commitment to shaping our future workforce as our country continues to attract investments and expand its industrial base. We must ensure that our industries have access to the skills, talent, innovative thinking, and research capabilities needed to remain competitive,” Undersecretary Rodolfo said.
Undersecretary Rodolfo emphasized that one of the key priorities of BOI is helping ensure that human capital development remains aligned with the needs of current and emerging industries. Through its Academe-Industry Matching (AIM!) program, the BOI works to align education and training with current and future industry skills requirement. The program aims to enhance workforce development, foster industry growth, and ensure the availability of a future-ready talent pool that supports the country’s investment priorities.
“It is, therefore, fitting that we formalize this partnership with PUP, the largest university in the Philippines, which has produced generations of graduates who now contribute to key sectors such as manufacturing engineering, IT, business, services, logistics, and the public sector,” the BOI Managing Head added.
Students and faculty will benefit from internship opportunities, industry immersion, joint research projects, policy studies, and capability-building activities that provide practical exposure to industry and government initiatives.
The partnership supports cross-cutting priorities relevant to manufacturing, services, innovation-driven industries, and other sectors that require skilled talent, research support, and stronger industry-academe collaboration.
For PUP President Muhi, the signing of the MOU is not just a signing of documents; it is a bridge built between our institutions, as both parties are uniting their strengths, resources, and passions to champion academic excellence, innovation, and public service.
“Through this partnership, PUP and BOI will establish a collaborative framework of industry-government and academic linkage and cooperation capability-building programs, joint research, policy studies, and conferences as well as faculty immersion, data and information sharing, development of industry-relevant curricula and instructional materials, and many other forms of partnership,” he added.
Notably, the MOU supports BOI’s aim to promote investments, develop industries, foster innovation, enhance competitiveness, and build a future-ready workforce through stronger collaboration among government, industry, and academe. PUP’s strength in the engineering and applied sciences program, broad talent base, and capacity for research and innovation make it a strategic partner in supporting BOI priority industries.
Previously, the BOI partnered with Adamson University. Through collaboration with academic institutions, BOI sees more opportunities for applied research, strengthened workforce readiness, and stronger alignment of academic programs with industry requirements.
