CALABARZON: Powering Philippine Industrial Growth through Industry-Based Learning at BatStateU LIMA Campus

As the Philippines’ premier industrial corridor, CALABARZON continues to anchor national economic growth through its vibrant network of manufacturing, technology, and production enterprises. Encompassing the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, the region hosts the country’s highest concentration of industrial parks and technoparks, serving as home to global and local leaders in automotive, semiconductor, electronics, and food manufacturing.

This industrial landscape has transformed CALABARZON into the nation’s most dynamic engine of employment and innovation. The region consistently leads the country in generating jobs across mechanical, technical, and industrial occupations—clear evidence of its economic strength and its continuing demand for a workforce equipped with advanced, industry-relevant skills.

Yet, this progress also brings an urgent challenge: aligning education with the complexity of modern industry. Employers now seek graduates who are not only academically trained but operationally competent—capable of working in high-precision, technology-driven environments. To sustain CALABARZON’s growth trajectory, education must evolve from classroom-based instruction to immersive, industry-embedded learning that develops real-world competencies alongside academic excellence.

This is the mission that Batangas State University, The National Engineering University (BatStateU The NEU), fulfills through its newly launched BatStateU LIMA Campus, strategically located within LIMA Estate—one of the largest and most advanced industrial estates in the Philippines. Designed as a hub for applied learning and innovation, the campus serves as BatStateU’s flagship response to the workforce development needs of CALABARZON and the nation.

“The CALABARZON region represents the heart of Philippine industrialization. By embedding our university right within this dynamic ecosystem, BatStateU ensures that education and industry move forward together—mutually reinforcing each other to strengthen national competitiveness,” declared Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo, University President.

At BatStateU LIMA Campus, learning is powered by the University’s Industry-Based Learning (IBL) model, which integrates academic instruction with real-world experience. Under this framework, industry acts as a co-educator, directly participating in curriculum design, mentorship, and competency assessment. Through the Extended Professional Placement (EPP)—a two-semester professional immersion—students work within partner companies in CALABARZON, gaining operational experience and applying engineering knowledge to actual production, design, and innovation challenges.

This immersive model ensures that BatStateU graduates are immediately workforce-ready and capable of contributing to the efficiency, innovation, and sustainability goals of their employers. By gaining hands-on experience in high-tech environments, students are empowered to participate in global advancements across robotics, artificial intelligence, and sustainable technologies. The approach also strengthens industry-academe collaboration by fostering a continuous feedback loop—where companies shape academic programs, and universities produce graduates who address evolving technological needs.

Beyond degree programs, BatStateU LIMA Campus also advances lifelong learning and professional development within CALABARZON’s industrial sector. Through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), mid-level professionals can earn formal college degrees by validating prior learning and experience, while the University’s Industry Microcredential programs allow employees to upskill or reskill in areas such as data science, cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced manufacturing.

The campus itself reflects the University’s forward-looking vision. Featuring smart classrooms, advanced laboratories, and digital-ready systems for hybrid learning, the BatStateU LIMA Campus is built to support an integrated educational experience where students and professionals can study, collaborate, and innovate alongside the industries shaping CALABARZON’s economy.

IN PHOTO: Aboitiz Economic Estates President and CEO Mr. Rafael Fernandez De Mesa together with BatStateU President Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo and DOST Assistant Secretary for Technology Transfer, Communications, and Commercialization Dr. Napoleon K. Juanillo Jr.

Officially launched on November 11, 2025, at Biz Hub, LIMA Estate in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas, the BatStateU LIMA Campus marks a significant milestone in the University’s commitment to innovation and industry collaboration. This was made possible after the Board of Aboitiz Economic Estates approved the donation of ten hectares of land within the Aboitiz LIMA Estate to Batangas State University on June 13, 2025. It was further solidified by the formal signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between BatStateU The NEU and Aboitiz Economic Estates on August 12, 2025, establishing the campus.

As the region continues to lead in national output and employment, BatStateU The NEU stands at the forefront of ensuring that its human capital keeps pace with technological and industrial progress. By cultivating globally competitive, industry-embedded professionals, the University contributes not only to regional prosperity but also to the realization of a sustainable, innovation-driven Philippine economy.

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.