Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), the joint venture of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Ayala Corp. and the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure, is seeking to advance railway education in the country through a partnership with the Ateneo De Manila University.
LRMC said it is working with ADMU, through its School of Science and Engineering, in designing railway engineering courses and programs to support the growing need for highly-skilled, competent, and world-class rail workforce in the country.
The move comes as the country develops further its railway industry with a number of new and expansion projects in the pipeline.
LRMC president and CEO Juan Alfonso, who also sits as a member of the advisory board of the Ateneo Research Institute of Science and Engineering, said the initiative also underscores the importance of private sector and academe collaboration to bring about learning for students that is rooted in real-world setting.
“LRMC has been planning and preparing for this collaboration with Ateneo. We live in an exciting time for our railway sector, with several infrastructure projects taking shape and a call for more sustainable modes of transport is being pushed,” Alfonso said.
LRMC will serve as a laboratory for a five-month internship program which will kick off in school year 2022-2023.
Students selected to undergo the internship program will gain exposure to railway maintenance and construction management and project management.
LRMC is also discussing with ADMU on how innovation and technology can be applied in research projects to be undertaken by students and/or faculty that will help address current challenges and gaps in the transportation sector.