Industry-Based Learning at the core: New Batangas State University campus in LIMA Estate reimagines future-ready education

BATANGAS CITY—A new chapter in Philippine engineering education is unfolding as Batangas State University, The National Engineering University (BatStateU The NEU), partners with Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates to establish a new campus within the LIMA Estate—a purpose-built, industry-integrated learning hub located in CALABARZON’s thriving industrial corridor.

The milestone was formalized on August 12 in Makati City, where BatStateU The NEU and Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Earlier, on June 19, 2025, through Board Resolution No. 74, s. 2025, the BatStateU Board of Regents approved the establishment of the BatStateU Aboitiz LIMA Campus, formally laying the foundation for what will become a national hub for industry-based education. This partnership will give rise to a pioneering academic-industrial campus in the heart of CALABARZON’s premier economic zone, purpose-built to integrate Industry-Based Learning (IBL) at the core of BatStateU’s engineering and technology programs. It aims to bridge the country’s widening skills gap and produce future-ready graduates equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.

“This is a strategic engine for innovation in talent development,” said Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo, President of BatStateU The NEU. “By situating the campus within a thriving industrial hub, we ensure that our students gain not only academic knowledge but also the practical, future-ready skills needed to lead in an increasingly dynamic industry.”

Situated within the 1000-hectare LIMA Estate in Lipa and Malvar, Batangas — one of the country’s most industrialized regions—the new campus places students in direct proximity to over 185 local and global industry leaders across dynamic manufacturing, technology, and business ecosystems. Its location within major economic zones and industrial clusters allows education to align in real-time with the industries that power national growth.

“It is a collaboration that delivers an impact on everyone, creating opportunities for students, driving innovation for businesses, strengthening investor confidence, and fueling regional growth,” shared Mr. Rafael Fernandez De Mesa, President and CEO of Aboitiz Land, Inc. and Head of Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates. “So together with Batangas State University, we’re not only building careers, we’re shaping a workforce that will help create a stronger and more competitive economy,” he added.

Scheduled to begin operations in AY 2026-2027, the new campus will feature state-of-the-art engineering laboratories, modern classrooms, and collaborative learning spaces, all integrated into a green and future-ready campus design. Incorporating renewable energy systems, sustainable building materials, and digital-ready infrastructure, the campus reflects BatStateU’s commitment to environmental stewardship and 21st-century education.

Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates is Asia’s leading developer and operator of smart, sustainable industrial-anchored townships, with a 2,000-hectare footprint, 250 locators, and 100,000 jobs generated across Southern Luzon and Central Visayas, and expansions into Central Luzon. Its portfolio includes the 1,000-hectare LIMA Estate in Batangas, 63-hectare Mactan Economic Zone 2 Estate in Cebu, 540-hectare West Cebu Estate in Balamban, and 384-hectare

TARI Estate in Tarlac. Supported by AboitizPower, Aboitiz Construction, and other Aboitiz businesses, these multi-awarded estates offer a complete ecosystem of infrastructure and services.

Through this landmark partnership, the new campus within the LIMA Estate is set to redefine how the Philippines nurtures engineering and technology talent—where education is immersed in real industry settings, innovation thrives, and learning fuels national progress.

Batangas State University (BatStateU), the Philippines’ National Engineering University under Republic Act No. 11694, is the country’s largest engineering institution and a recognized leader in engineering and technology education. It is the first state university with programs in BS Chemical Engineering, BS Civil Engineering, BS Computer Engineering, BS Electrical Engineering, BS Electronics Engineering, BS Industrial Engineering, BS Mechanical Engineering, and BS Sanitary Engineering accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), https://www.abet.org under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Engineering and Philippine Technological Council’s Accreditation and Certification Board for Engineering and Technology (PTC-ACBET). Moreover, BatStateU Alangilan’s BS Computer Science Program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Computer Science and Similarly Named Computing Programs. Similarly, BatStateU Alangilan’s BS Information Technology Program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Information Technology and Similarly Named Computing Programs. Globally recognized for its innovation and sustainability initiatives, BatStateU ranks 401–600 in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, 111th in the 2025 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), and 304th in the 2024 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings. The University remains committed to advancing transformative, industry-aligned education that produces globally competitive graduates and drives national development.