As the country faces various economic challenges mainly driven by the global energy crisis, vulnerable sectors including working students are starting to feel the heat. Since the Philippines imports 98 percent of its oil from the Middle East, the supply disruption causes not only transportation cost hikes. It’s also expected to push prices of electricity, food, and basic goods up and weaken the purchasing power of ordinary Filipinos.
For working students who are already facing immense financial pressure as breadwinners or partial providers of the family, the rising cost of living could force them to put their studies on hold. A strong advocate for working students, Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC) continues to champion their needs by designing solutions to their most pressing problems. MMDC believes quality education should remain accessible to all, and this is why their students typically spend only P12,000 to P14,000 each term for a light load covering three subjects.
Acknowledging the economic burdens of working students bearing the brunt of the persisting global energy crisis, the premier digital college has further strengthened its financial aid programs for the new school year through the Pangarap Support initiative. Pangarap Support streamlines access to the institution’s robust financial aid portfolio, allowing enrollees to leverage specific programs that best cater to their needs and situation.
Working students planning to enroll in BS Information Technology and Business courses can get up to 36% tuition discount with the Asenso Scholarship that provides 20% upfront discount, and combine it with the Needs-based Scholarship for an additional 16% off for those who qualify.
Solo parents, children of solo parents, and working youth aged 18 to 25 can get the financial support they need to pursue higher education through the NextGen Discount Program, where they can receive a 30% discount for one term. Families who enroll together in the same academic term can also get financial relief through the Family Scholarship Program that offers tiered tuition fee discounts of up to 60% off for up to four immediate family members.
Recognizing that every student’s journey is unique, MMDC has broadened the capacity of Pangarap Support to cover a diverse range of financial realities. It includes programs designed to give working students breathing room to manage their cash flow without pausing their studies. To keep pace with a digital-first curriculum, students can apply for the Gadget Scholarship that equips deserving individuals with their own laptop or portable Wi-Fi device.
Working students who are on a tight budget should also consider GGives Study Now, Pay Later Loan Program. Made possible in partnership with financial platform GCash, this allows enrollees to pay their tuition and other school fees through the app’s installment loan service GGives, providing them the flexibility to repay the amount within six to 18 months.
The digital college’s Pangarap Support initiative is also supporting those who cannot restart their college amid the economic uncertainty. MMDC is now offering full access to its suite of innovative, flexible, and short-term Certification Programs for only Php990 a month. This program is specifically designed to help non-graduate professionals and career shifters upskill or reskill to stay relevant, attain better employment, or overcome a career rut in this ever-changing global labor landscape.
Delivered through the leading global online platform Coursera, MMDC’s Certification Programs can help them earn microcredentials in high-demand industries like virtual assistance, digital marketing, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and English language training. More tech-based programs are also being developed. These self-paced courses are offered fully online, enabling enrollees to obtain a professional certification in two to three months.
“With our digital-first model, accessibility is always an essential pillar for us at MMDC. We’re emphasizing this commitment by ensuring high-quality Mapúan Academic Excellence remains attainable to as many students as possible, no matter their financial situation,” shares Jenny Chua, Vice President at MMDC. Chua further cites the MMDC’s first-ever State of the Working Student report published in March, saying that many working students are already considering dropping out of school because of the pressures of juggling work, studies, and personal life. “With these financial solutions in place, MMDC aims to lighten the load of working students and empower them to pursue their academic journey, which can eventually uplift them and their families.”
Mapúa Malayan Digital College offers academic pathways that can adapt to the workload and financial realities of the modern Filipino student. Its BS Information Technology and Business courses are conducted fully online (with the flexibility to choose morning, afternoon, or evening classes). No face-to-face classes are ever required, helping students save on transportation costs while giving them the freedom to dedicate more time to work or side hustles, family, or personal life. With a curriculum anchored in Mapúan Academic Excellence, students here are exposed to a hands-on, project-based learning approach, enabling them to learn new skills that they can immediately apply in their industry and leverage for their career growth.
“Our goal is to help Filipino working students earn a college degree that offers an edge both locally and globally or obtain an in-demand certification. This diploma or certification, after all, could serve as a stepping stone for them to earn a higher income and finally achieve their career and financial goals, which could help them weather economic uncertainties in the future,” Chua shares.
Learn more about Mapúa Malayan Digital College’s progressive learning model and its college and certification programs at mmdc.mcl.edu.ph. For updates, follow MMDC’s official social media accounts @mapuamalayandigital on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.