06 April 2026
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and the Project Management Institute Philippines Chapter signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 27, 2026 to introduce project management training and certification pathways for students and faculty.
The agreement allows Benilde’s School of Management and Information Technology to integrate the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) credential into its micro certification offerings. Students will have the chance to graduate with a globally recognized credential while gaining access to PMI research, webinars, and professional communities.
The partnership also opens opportunities for mentorship programs, workshops, conferences, and joint research projects with PMI practitioners. Both institutions will share knowledge and resources to keep learning aligned with international project management standards.
PMI is the world’s leading professional association for project management. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Pennsylvania, the organization supports more than 650,000 members around the world and develops widely used standards such as the Project Management Body of Knowledge.
Benilde Chancellor Benhur Ong said the collaboration helps the College prepare students for the demands of real projects and real industries. “In a world where ideas are abundant, what truly matters is execution,” Ong said. “Project management turns vision into outcomes, plans into action, and ambition into measurable success.”
Ong explained that the partnership opens pathways for students to earn CAPM certification while connecting them to global knowledge communities. He said the initiative also strengthens programs in business solutions and applications within the School of Management and Information Technology. “We move with changing systems, and when needed we help shape them,” Ong said. “This step helps make sure our students are ready for the challenges ahead.”
Vice Chancellor for Academics Angelo Lacson said he hopes the agreement quickly translates into classroom learning. “This piece of paper should enter classrooms,” Lacson said. “I hope this partnership becomes part of the curriculum and creates more opportunities for faculty and students.”
Lacson shared a personal story about his sister, a certified Project Management Professional working in Europe. Her experience showed him how global certifications help professionals perform at a higher level and compete internationally.
For Charlie Valero, the collaboration represents both a milestone and a long term advocacy. Valero said discussions about the partnership began last year through conversations with Benilde faculty members. He credited Associate Dean Cathy Mojado and other faculty leaders for welcoming the idea early on. “For Benilde to embrace project management was music to my ears,” Valero said.
He explained that one of his goals has been to raise the level of project management competence in the Philippine workforce so Filipino professionals can compete more strongly in the global economy.
PMI Philippines President Marc Gorospe placed the partnership in a global context. He cited PMI’s Talent Gap report, which projects that the world will need around 25 million project professionals by 2030, or about 2.3 million new roles each year.
“The world is changing, and when the world changes we need qualified professionals to manage that change,” Gorospe said. He pointed to rapid digital transformation in sectors such as fintech, infrastructure, and power. Organizations in these industries need people who can organize complex work and deliver large scale initiatives.
“For too long we lived in an era of accidental project management,” he said, referring to situations where technical experts suddenly find themselves managing large projects without formal training. “We want to move toward intentional project leadership.”
Gorospe also noted that PMI Philippines currently has around 1,200 members but only about 20 student members. Partnerships with universities like Benilde can help introduce more students to the profession early in their careers. “The projects of tomorrow start with the training we build today,” he said.
The partnership also connects with Benilde’s wider push to give students professional credentials alongside their degrees. Last year, the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management launched its own microcredentialing initiative to help students gain industry certifications in hospitality, tourism, and culinary fields. Programs like these show how the College is building more pathways for Benildeans to graduate with both academic training and recognized professional qualifications.
For more information on Benilde’s undergraduate programs, contact us at (63) 2 8230 5100 local 1801 or admissions@benilde.edu.ph. You may also visit our website at www.benilde.edu.ph.
