Mapúa University has sealed a landmark partnership with global gaming giant Capcom Singapore and industry linkage firm Prime Manpower, formalizing a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding signed on January 26, 2025, at the Mapúa Intramuros campus.
The collaboration signals a decisive shift in how gaming, intellectual property, and digital talent development will be taught in the Philippines—one that moves beyond pure technical skill and squarely into understanding the entire value chain of the gaming industry.
“This is about empowering students to see the bigger picture,” Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, President and CEO of Mapúa University said. “They need to understand the business segment of development and not just the technical side. That’s how Filipino creators can truly compete and lead in the global gaming industry.”
At the heart of the partnership is a shared vision to produce graduates who are not only capable game developers, artists, or designers, but also creators who understand how games become viable global products.
This means learning the full lifecycle of game development—from concept and production to publishing, business models, monetization, and intellectual property protection—within the context of a highly competitive international market.
Maestrecampo underscored this philosophy, emphasizing that modern game education must go far beyond coding and graphics.
He said the collaboration will focus on teaching students the entire value chain of gaming development, including the business and intellectual property aspects, so learners gain a holistic understanding of how ideas turn into sustainable enterprises.
For Mapúa, the goal is clear: students must grasp not only how to build games, but how the business of gaming works, how IP is created and protected, and how value is generated across global markets.
The signing ceremony brought together senior leaders from all partner institutions, reflecting the strategic weight of the initiative. Present at the event were Ricky Bian Li, Managing Director of Capcom Singapore; Motoki Okuyama, General Manager of Capcom Japan; Rommel Roque, President and CEO of Prime Manpower Philippines; Shinnosuke Miura and Hideaki Suzuki of Prime Manpower Japan’s Sangakuren organization, along with Mapúa’s leadership team.
Representatives from the Osaka Institute of Technology also joined virtually, highlighting the cross-border academic and industry alignment behind the program.
Under the MOU, Mapúa will work closely with Capcom and industry experts to develop a program centered on Games, Intellectual Property, and Digital Culture. The curriculum is designed to respond to growing demand for professionals who can navigate not only creative and technical production, but also IP development, commercialization, and long-term brand building in the digital economy.
Capcom’s involvement ensures that learning modules, lectures, and standards are informed by real-world global publishing experience rather than purely academic theory.
Implementation will follow a phased, industry-validated approach. Initial activities will include special lectures and industry-led sessions that immediately expose students to international perspectives and professional practices. This will be followed by deeper curriculum integration, embedding specialized modules aligned with global gaming standards.
In later stages, Mapúa plans to expand access through microcredential programs under MapúaX, allowing working professionals and aspiring developers outside the university to earn industry-recognized certifications in gaming and digital IP.
Prime Manpower’s role anchors the partnership to real career outcomes. Acting as the bridge between education and employment, the firm will help open internship pipelines and international career pathways aligned with the needs of the global gaming industry.
Roque highlighted the broader impact of overseas exposure, encouraging students to gain international experience and bring that knowledge back home to strengthen local communities and industries.
The collaboration reinforces Mapúa University’s long-standing reputation as a leader in technology and innovation, while redefining what creative education looks like in the digital age. As the university enters its second century, it continues to position Filipino talent not merely as contributors to global media, but as creators who understand how ideas, technology, and business converge to shape the future of the gaming and IP economy.
More information on Mapúa University’s programs is available at www.mapua.edu.ph.