The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) and the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) convened today, July 30, to discuss the implementation of the fourth batch of the MpowHER Scholarship Program, reinforcing their partnership in supporting female electrical engineering students through financial assistance and career development opportunities.

The meeting, held at the OUP Conference Room on the NEUST Sumacab Campus, focused on the MpowHER Scholarship Program, which provides qualified female electrical engineering students with monthly allowances during their third and fourth years of study, as well as financial support for board examination review and licensure examination expenses to help them complete their academic and professional journey.

Under the MpowHER Program, applicants must be Filipino female citizens from indigent families, incoming third-year Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering students, non-recipients of any other scholarship grant, and have a cumulative general weighted average of 2.0, after which qualified candidates will be endorsed by the university.

The meeting was attended by NEUST Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Feliciana Jacoba, OIC College of Engineering Dean Engr. Jeric Aduna, College of Industrial Technology Dean Prof. Marcelo Bulalayao, and Electrical Engineering faculty members Engr. Salvador Loria Jr., Dr. Lorinda Pascual, and Engr. Christopher Ladignon, while MERALCO was represented by University Relations Officer Joaquin Antonio Feliciano and Employer Branding representative Jannie Kalata.

NEUST is one of only five higher education institutions partnered with MERALCO under the MpowHER Program, alongside the University of the Philippines Diliman, the University of the Philippines Los Baños, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and Batangas State University.

Since its launch in 2022, the MpowHER Program has supported 60 scholars across the five partner universities, including 10 scholars from NEUST through the program’s first three batches, as part of MERALCO’s initiative to increase women’s representation in the engineering workforce and foster a more gender-balanced workplace.

In addition to scholarship assistance, MERALCO also offers internship opportunities to qualified students and encourages them to pursue employment with the company after graduation, strengthening the transition from academic training to professional practice.

NEUST and MERALCO representatives also explored potential areas for future collaboration that could further benefit students and faculty by expanding opportunities for academic and industry engagement.

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