Overview
Mapúa University contributes to the eradication of poverty by expanding access to education through scholarships and financial assistance programs, supporting students from low-income households, and implementing community development initiatives that promote sustainable livelihoods, entrepreneurship, healthcare access, and educational opportunities. Through its scholarship programs and community outreach initiatives, the University helps reduce economic barriers to education while empowering underserved communities to improve their quality of life.
University Anti-Poverty Programmes
Scholarship and Financial Assistance Programs
Mapúa University provides a range of scholarship and financial assistance programs designed to support financially challenged students and improve access to higher education.
Income-Based Financial Assistance Program (IBFAP)
The Income-Based Financial Assistance Program (IBFAP) provides financial support to incoming freshmen from financially challenged households.
Key features include:
- 40% tuition discount
- Priority for graduates of public high schools
- Available to applicants with a combined annual family income not exceeding ₱700,000
- Support for students enrolled in regular academic programs
Recipients are required to maintain academic performance standards and comply with scholarship requirements to continue receiving assistance.
Need-Based Academic Scholarship (NBAS)
The Need-Based Academic Scholarship (NBAS) provides term-based financial assistance to academically deserving students from financially challenged households.
Benefits include:
- Up to 100% tuition discount for qualified students
- 50% tuition discount for eligible applicants meeting scholarship criteria
- Prioritization of students with lower family income and stronger academic performance
The program helps ensure that financial limitations do not prevent deserving students from completing their studies.
UT Foundation Inc. Scholarship
In partnership with the UT Foundation Inc. and AY Foundation, Mapúa University provides scholarship opportunities for financially disadvantaged students.
The scholarship includes:
- Laboratory fee assistance
- Miscellaneous fee support
- Student allowances
- Additional educational assistance for qualified scholars
These programs support students under both IBFAP and NBAS and strengthen access to quality higher education for economically disadvantaged learners.
Financial Assistance and Access to Education
Through its scholarship programs and tuition support mechanisms, Mapúa University broadens access to quality education and promotes social mobility among students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Support for Students from Low-Income Families
Mapúa University maintains targeted support mechanisms for students from low-income households to help them successfully complete their studies.
The University’s financial assistance programs specifically support students whose annual household income falls within established eligibility thresholds and provide tuition discounts, scholarships, fee subsidies, and educational assistance that reduce financial barriers to higher education.
These initiatives ensure that qualified students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are given opportunities to pursue and complete university education.
Community Anti-Poverty Programmes
Start-Up Livelihood Program
Mapúa University, through the Office for Social Orientation and Community Involvement Programs (SOCIP), implements livelihood initiatives that support low-income families and underserved communities.
Start-Up Livelihood Program for Indigenous Families
The University continued its Start-Up Livelihood Program for selected indigenous families in Barangay 872, Zone 95.
The program provides:
- Livelihood development support
- Community mentoring
- Capacity-building activities
- Guidance in establishing income-generating ventures
Beneficiaries were selected through an assessment of socioeconomic conditions and livelihood needs to ensure assistance reaches the most vulnerable households.
Annual Monitoring of Start-Up Businesses
SOCIP conducts regular monitoring and evaluation of livelihood projects established under the Start-Up Livelihood Program.
Monitoring activities assess:
- Income generation
- Business sustainability
- Household economic improvement
- Community impact
Beneficiaries reported improvements in household income through small enterprises such as food vending and the sale of household products. These ventures contribute to household financial stability and improved quality of life.
Entrepreneurship Training and Business Development
Empowering Minds: Webinar on Business Ideas for Economic Impact
On 11 April 2025, the E.T. Yuchengco School of Business conducted the webinar “Empowering Minds: Webinar on Business Ideas for Economic Impact.”
The webinar provided free entrepreneurship and business development training covering:
- Product and service value proposition
- Business decision-making
- Financial management
- Markup computation
- Pricing strategies
- Business sustainability
Participants also learned the importance of business registration, legal compliance, credibility, and long-term enterprise development.
The initiative supports entrepreneurship as a pathway toward poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth.
Programmes to Improve Access to Basic Services
Community Healthcare Outreach
Mapúa University conducts outreach programs that improve community access to healthcare services.
Community Healthcare Outreach in Barangay 836, Pandacan
In April 2025, the University conducted a healthcare outreach activity benefiting approximately 400 residents from underserved communities.
Services provided included:
- Medical consultations
- Distribution of medicines
- Circumcision services
- Physical therapy services
- Mental health awareness lectures
- Basic Life Support training
These initiatives directly improve access to healthcare services among vulnerable populations while promoting health and well-being in local communities.
Mapúa Snippets: Accessible Digital Learning Initiative
Launched in August 2024, Mapúa Snippets is a free and accessible digital education initiative designed to provide short educational videos and learning resources.
The program offers:
- English learning modules
- Mathematics learning materials
- Digital educational content
- Accessible learning resources for underserved communities
The initiative benefits learners from public elementary schools and marginalized communities by expanding access to educational opportunities and supporting learning continuity.
Participation in Poverty Alleviation Initiatives
Mapúa University participates in local, regional, and national efforts to address poverty through education, livelihood development, community engagement, entrepreneurship training, healthcare outreach, and social development initiatives.
Through the combined efforts of:
- Office for Social Orientation and Community Involvement Programs (SOCIP)
- Center for Scholarships and Financial Assistance (CSFA)
- Academic units and colleges
- Community and external partners
The University contributes to poverty reduction by supporting educational access, economic empowerment, livelihood generation, healthcare accessibility, and community capacity-building among underserved populations.
These initiatives align with SDG 1 by addressing both the immediate and underlying causes of poverty through sustainable, education-centered, and community-driven approaches.