The global climate crisis demands science-based sustainable solutions, and Mapúa University is leading the charge as the first Philippine institution to offer a bachelor’s program in energy engineering.
Energy engineers have, directly and indirectly, been involved in the development of solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal plants, electric vehicles, floating wind farms, and a host of other sustainable solutions. They are an indispensable group in designing and upgrading technologies to counter environmental degradation.
Mapúa’s three-term undergraduate program trains students in the latest sustainable practices and technologies, renewable energy sources, optimized energy storage, smart power distribution, and other crucial energy issues. It develops future experts in confronting global energy issues with a genuine dedication to sustainability.
For students like Felix L. Merin, part of the 2023 pioneer batch of BS Energy Engineering, the program is more than just a degree—it is a platform to turn passion into action. The 20-year-old from Las Piñas first learned about energy engineering in ninth grade and dreamt of going overseas for college, as at that time, it was not yet offered by local universities.
Due to personal circumstances, Felix was forced to consider taking mechanical engineering at Mapúa. However, during enrollment, he learned that energy engineering was offered as an undergraduate program—and the rest was history.
Now in his second year, Felix revealed how his studies fueled his determination to contribute to the global climate conversation and create sustainable solutions.
“Energy has become a pseudo necessity, and we consume so much of it daily. We get our power from various sources albeit fossil fuel dominated. As a future energy engineer, we must find a way to provide clean and cheaper energy to the community consistently,” he said.
To fulfill this task, aspiring engineers will undergo years of intensive education and training at Mapúa. Felix advises fellow students to remember that their journey is not solely for themselves but for future generations.
“The program enables aspiring energy solutionaries to master and maximize the concepts and ideas to devise future innovations,” he added.
The resident of Las Piñas is set to embark on a research project on the feasibility of the Philippines transitioning to a renewable source-dependent energy ecosystem. It is essential, according to Felix, to determine the factors leading individuals and communities to lessen dependence on fossil fuels and adopt renewable energy as a primary source.
To help fellow energy engineering students, he plans to spearhead a new student organization to enable current and incoming students to have a space to get together, collaborate, study, and receive assistance to expand their passions for the field.
“Aspiring energy experts should be open-minded and develop empathy to truly become great climate solutionaries,” said Felix.
Employment opportunities for energy engineers in the Philippines are likewise sustainable and continuously growing.
Led by the private sector, particularly the Yuchengco Group of Companies, Ayala, and Lopez Group, the renewable energy field is estimated to generate over 350,000 jobs if projects in the current pipeline are deployed at full capacity by 2030, according to a report by the global think tank Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
To learn more about Mapúa’s Energy Engineering program, click https://bit.ly/ask-us-at-mapua. Ready to enroll? Visit admissions.mapua.edu.ph/portal and begin your journey to world-class education today!
