Maria Ressa (Nobel Peace Prize winner, Founder & CEO at Rappler), Melanie Perkins (CEO & Co-founder at Canva), Anne Aaron (Director of Encoding Technologies at Netflix) are just some examples of Filipinas who are slaying it at careers in tech and business today. If they can make it in their respective fields, how much more can women go with the right conditions for topnotch education as our lives become inextricably linked with technology, moving inevitably into the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

Among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all (SDG 4) and achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls (SDG 5). Though girls' and women's access to education has improved over the years, many challenges like societal restrictions, armed conflicts, financial difficulties, and gender biases still persist. At present, worldwide, 129 million girls from primary to secondary level are out of school. Among those pursuing higher education in science, technology, engineering, and math (or STEM), only 35% are women.

A combination of factors has brought about this situation, but it starts with establishing spaces and places conducive to girls and women being able to explore their interests in STEM, including having peers and mentors with whom they can discuss these interests. Surrounding them with people who encourage their sense of wonder and exploration and encourage their curiosity asking "why" or "why not," whether in schools or social clubs. Women should also be able to access more information on what careers in technology entail and how they will benefit from them in the long run.

Education as the Backbone of Careers in STEM

We need to empower women with good, holistic education and supportive environments in order to give them opportunities and prepare them to pursue purposeful careers in STEM. Women should choose to study at schools that are effective, accessible, flexible, and inclusive in order to be equipped with the knowledge and skills for them to join the workforce.

Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC) is a digital-first college focused on technology and business. MMDC offers online curricula and offline experiences designed for modern Filipino students by instructional design professionals with extensive experience in the academe and the workforce. Through these encouraging and uplifting conditions, MMDC supports women to be game changers by bringing in their perspectives and problem-solving capabilities. Based on the 2021 JobStreet Internal Database, "IT is the third most in-demand job," and with this in mind, MMDC has set up a system conducive for preparing women to find gainful employment in this promising field.

Education as the Backbone of Careers in STEM

We need to empower women with good, holistic education and supportive environments in order to give them opportunities and prepare them to pursue purposeful careers in STEM. Women should choose to study at schools that are effective, accessible, flexible, and inclusive in order to be equipped with the knowledge and skills for them to join the workforce.

Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC) is a digital-first college focused on technology and business. MMDC offers online curricula and offline experiences designed for modern Filipino students by instructional design professionals with extensive experience in the academe and the workforce. Through these encouraging and uplifting conditions, MMDC supports women to be game changers by bringing in their perspectives and problem-solving capabilities. Based on the 2021 JobStreet Internal Database, "IT is the third most in-demand job," and with this in mind, MMDC has set up a system conducive for preparing women to find gainful employment in this promising field.

According to surveys conducted in cooperation with Acumen, Insight Asia, and TheNerve, Filipino students choose where they study based on: available courses, tuition fee costs, and school reputation. MMDC--part of Malayan Colleges Laguna, A Mapúa School--continues this enduring legacy of academic excellence for which the Mapúa name is known. By addressing the priorities of students and offering real-world relevant specializations in Information Technology, MMDC has created new, game-changing conditions for women in tech to thrive.

MMDC: An Effective, Accessible, Flexible, Inclusive and Accommodating Education Experience

To be effective, an education in STEM needs to consider the needs of the fast-paced and dynamic STEM industries. MMDC offers the following specializations in Information Technology: Data Analytics, Software Development, and Network and Cybersecurity. Our society is accelerating toward higher technology and highlighting further the need for more workers in STEM equipped not only with the knowledge but also soft skills, like leadership and critical thinking, necessary to keep the trajectory of growth.

To be accessible, an education in STEM should provide tools and venues for learners. MMDC can provide each student with their own laptop and pocket Wi-Fi to ensure that she does not miss any of the elements of the carefully curated curriculum. MMDC has also established modern collaboration spaces conducive for student meetings, study groups, and the like. The first two of these Learning Hubs will be conveniently located at Ayala Malls Cloverleaf (Quezon City) and Ayala Malls Capitol Central (Bacolod City).

To be flexible, an education in STEM needs to take into consideration the daily realities of Filipino women, including those who may need to balance work or family time (and even passion projects) with studying. MMDC’s required class meeting times clock in at approximately 7.5 hours a week of synchronous learning, made available with both early and late day schedules.

To be inclusive, an education in STEM should not discriminate but instead, make opportunities available to all. MMDC introduces a Pioneer Scholarship (for the school year 2022-2023) where the first 500 enrolled students will be granted up to PHP20,000 discount on annual tuition fee or PHP7,000 discount per term. With such a discount, the enrollment fee per term can be as low as PHP19,000 or PHP58,000 for a full trimester year.

To be flexible, an education in STEM needs to take into consideration the daily realities of Filipino women, including those who may need to balance work or family time (and even passion projects) with studying. MMDC’s required class meeting times clock in at approximately 7.5 hours a week of synchronous learning, made available with both early and late day schedules.

To be inclusive, an education in STEM should not discriminate but instead, make opportunities available to all. MMDC introduces a Pioneer Scholarship (for the school year 2022-2023) where the first 500 enrolled students will be granted up to PHP20,000 discount on annual tuition fee or PHP7,000 discount per term. With such a discount, the enrollment fee per term can be as low as PHP19,000 or PHP58,000 for a full trimester year.

To be accommodating, an education in STEM should create conditions that will make students feel a sense of belonging in a community with individuals who have similar interests. MMDC supports women to pursue tech through clubs where they can learn practical skills needed to get the job they want and to build networks with fellow future STEM practitioners. If they cannot find a social club that suits their needs or interests, then they can organize and pioneer their own clubs to meet needs and fill gaps.

A Vision of More Women in STEM

We envision a world with more women working in STEM, ready to meet the challenges and excel at their chosen careers. MMDC is determined to provide the conditions that will allow more Filipinas to live up to their potential.

The spirit of innovation courses through MMDC. So much so that it has provided better ways and new approaches to learning that appeal to and respond to the needs of women aspiring to enter the world of IT and business, and all modern Filipino students. By doing so, Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC) redefines the learning landscape for better experiences, better lives, and a better Philippines.

Learn more about Mapúa Malayan Digital College and reserve your slot now. Visit www.mmdc.mcl.edu.ph or follow MMDC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.