Batangas State University opens LIMA Campus, empowers learners with a full swing of Industry 4.0 lifelong learning opportunities

Batangas State University, The National Engineering University (BatStateU The NEU), in partnership with Aboitiz Economic Estates, is redefining the future of engineering and technology education in the Philippines with the official launch of the BatStateU LIMA Campus in Biz Hub, LIMA Estate, Lipa-Malvar, Batangas, on November 11, 2025.

The historic event began with the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the BatStateU LIMA Campus, a symbolic milestone marking the start of this transformative partnership. Led by BatStateU President Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo and Head of Aboitiz Economic Estates and President & CEO of Aboitiz Land, Mr. Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, the moment signified the joint commitment of the university and Aboitiz Economic Estates to advancing innovation and inclusive development in the region. Members of the BatStateU Board of Regents, CHED commissioners, provincial directors, Aboitiz Economic Estates executives and LIMA Estate locators, prominent figures from both national and local government, influential business executives, key industry stakeholders, and esteemed academic leaders, witnessed the momentous occasion.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo reflected on the journey that led to the establishment of the BatStateU LIMA Campus. He recalled his first meeting on August 12, when the concept of building a BatStateU campus within the LIMA Estate was first proposed—a moment that ignited a vision rooted in continuous learning and constant innovation. “The best way to teach cooking is in the kitchen,” he shared, emphasizing the importance of industry-based learning and real-world engagement. “The vision now stands before us—a living symbol that when ideas are turned into action, and partners work together with unity and purpose, great things happen.” Dr. Ronquillo highlighted that the LIMA Campus represents not only a new way of thinking but also a new way of linking education with industry, adding, “Aboitiz Economic Estates have helped us redefine what education should be.”

During the Opening Ceremonies, Hon. Vilma Santos-Recto, Governor of the Province of Batangas, graced the event with a powerful keynote address. “We will be preparing them for the demands of the modern industry. In the future, from their ranks will rise innovators, industry leaders, and game changers,” she emphasized, highlighting the event’s significance for Batangas and its broader impact on the nation.

Representing the Secretary of the Department of Finance, Hon. Ralph G. Recto, Congressman Ryan Christian Recto of the 6th District of Batangas delivered a heartfelt expression of support. “Under the leadership of Dr. Ronquillo, our family has long shared a meaningful partnership with BatStateU. Education is not merely about building structures; it is about creating synergy. It thrives through collaboration among government, industry, and the academe to ensure that learning remains relevant and responsive. BatStateU has consistently stood at the forefront of this partnership—adaptive, innovative, and forward-looking.”

The official launch of BatStateU’s industry-based learning curriculum was also held during the event, marking a significant step toward realizing Dr. Ronquillo’s vision for the BatStateU LIMA Campus. Anchored on the theme “Engineering Industry-Based Learning, Shaping Industry Leaders of the Future,” the launch marks a pivotal milestone in BatStateU’s mission to bridge academic excellence with industry relevance. Strategically located at the heart of CALABARZON—the country’s most industrialized region—the BatStateU LIMA Campus will equip students and professionals alike with cutting-edge skills essential for success in an Industry 4.0-driven, global economy.

Designed as a hub for industry-based learning, the new campus offers a bundle of lifelong learning opportunities that prepare both undergraduate students and working professionals to thrive in an era of rapid technological advancement.

At the undergraduate level, the BatStateU LIMA campus offers an expansive portfolio of Industry 4.0-aligned programs, integrating practical, hands-on experience through advanced laboratories, smart classrooms, and research centers. These programs include Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Food Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Transportation Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, and Electronics Engineering Technology. Each degree program emphasizes innovation, applied research, and industry collaboration—producing graduates ready to lead in sectors such as robotics, smart manufacturing, aviation, healthcare technology, sustainable systems, and advanced mobility.

For working professionals seeking career advancement or academic enrichment, BatStateU LIMA Campus provides flexible, career-oriented learning pathways that support both advancement and continuous professional development. Graduate programs are designed to meet the emerging demands of Industry 4.0, combining academic rigor with applied research. These include Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Electronics Engineering and Engineering Management, as well as Master’s degrees in Advanced Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Electronics Engineering, Engineering Management, and Transportation Systems Engineering.

Further strengthening its commitment to lifelong learning, the campus offers the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), a CHED-recognized pathway that allows mid-level professionals within the LIMA Estate to earn formal college degrees by accrediting their prior learning, work experience, and competencies—eliminating the need for traditional classroom attendance. Complementing this, the campus provides flexible, stackable Industry Microcredential programs in high-demand fields such as Data Science, Cybersecurity, Project Management, Internet of Things (IoT), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Building Information Modeling (BIM), enabling professionals to upskill, reskill, and certify their competencies efficiently.

Purposefully located within LIMA Estate, one of Asia’s premier industrial-anchored economic estates, the BatStateU LIMA Campus embodies the concept of learning within industry. The campus features state-of-the-art laboratories, smart classrooms, digital-ready systems for hybrid learning, and green, sustainable infrastructure designed to foster innovation and collaboration. Its proximity to leading enterprises provides students and professionals with direct exposure to industry operations, research partnerships, and employment networks, creating unparalleled opportunities to translate classroom learning into real-world solutions.

“For us at Aboitiz Economic Estates, this partnership also reflects what we stand for—creating environments that empower people to grow, innovate, and succeed. By investing in education, we invest in the sustainability of the communities we build and the competitiveness of the industries we serve. To Dr. Tirso Ronquillo and the leadership of Batangas State University, thank you for your vision, your trust, and your partnership. Together, we are setting a new benchmark for collaboration between the public and private sectors—one that demonstrates how industry and academia can work hand in hand to drive meaningful national progress,” emphasized Mr. Rafael Fernandez De Mesa, as he delivered a message of commitment to the partnership’s success.

The foundation of the BatStateU-Aboitiz partnership was laid through a remarkable act of collaboration and shared purpose. On June 13, 2025, the Board of Aboitiz Economic Estates approved the donation of ten hectares of land within the Aboitiz LIMA Estate to Batangas State University. Shortly after, on June 19, 2025, the Batangas State University Board of Regents formally approved the establishment of the Aboitiz LIMA Campus, together with the initial offering of undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering and technology.

The formal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Batangas State University, The National Engineering University, and Aboitiz Economic Estates, signed on August 12, 2025, established the BatStateU LIMA Campus as a flagship model of Industry-Based Learning (IBL). This partnership underscores a shared vision of shaping globally competitive Filipino professionals through education that directly responds to industry needs.

With its holistic approach to education, BatStateU LIMA Campus positions the University at the forefront of engineering and technology education transformation in the Philippines, fostering a culture of lifelong learning, technological innovation, and professional excellence for students and working professionals alike.

About Batangas State University

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 and only state university in the Philippines with engineering and computing programs accredited by both the US-based Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and the Philippine Technological Council–Accreditation and Certification Board for Engineering and Technology (PTC-ACBET). 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.

About Aboitiz Economic Estates

Aboitiz Economic Estates is Asia’s leading developer and operator of smart and sustainable industry-anchored townships, with a 2,000-hectare footprint, 250 industrial locators, and 100,000 jobs generated across Southern Luzon and Central Visayas, with ongoing strategic expansions into Central Luzon.

Catering to a wide range of businesses and communities, Aboitiz Economic Estates’ portfolio includes the 1000-hectare LIMA Estate in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas; the 63-hectare Mactan Economic Zone 2 Estate in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu; the 540-hectare West Cebu Estate in Balamban, Cebu; and the 384-hectare TARI Estate in Tarlac City, Tarlac.

The multi-awarded Economic Estates are well-supported by a comprehensive ecosystem of infrastructure facilities and services, managed by Aboitiz businesses, including Aboitiz InfraCapital, AboitizPower, and Aboitiz Construction.