Lipa-Malvar, Batangas — A landmark collaboration between Batangas State University (BatStateU), The National Engineering University, and Aboitiz Economic Estates is setting a new benchmark for education–industry partnership with the launch of the BatStateU LIMA Campus, the country’s first learning hub dedicated to Industry-Based Learning (IBL). This initiative marks a transformative model that places students at the center of real-world learning—embedded within one of the country’s foremost hubs for industry and innovation.
“Today, Batangas State University, The National Engineering University, gives birth to real industry-based learning—a pioneering model that will redefine engineering and technology education in the Philippines,” says Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, President of Batangas State University.
Slated to open for classes in August 2026, the BatStateU LIMA Campus will be the first academic institution in the country fully integrated into an industrial estate. Located at the heart of LIMA Estate—a 1,000-hectare smart, industry-anchored estate home to nearly 200 global and local companies and over 75,000 professionals—the campus is envisioned as a living classroom, where students will gain real-time exposure to industry practices and applications.
Let today be a defining moment in how we bridge the gap between academic potential and industrial progress Together, we are not only shaping careers—we are strengthening the foundation of a more competitive, future-ready Philippines.
Through curriculum co-development, simulation-based training, and on-the-job immersion embedded directly within the estate’s ecosystem, the campus will equip students with the technical skills, innovation mindset, and practical exposure essential for today’s rapidly evolving economy.
At Aboitiz Economic Estates, the possibilities are boundless,” shared Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto. Here, your investments will not only grow—they will thrive and succeed, powered by education, a supportive government, and strong collective partnerships that shape our province’s continued growth and shared prosperity.
As The National Engineering University, Batangas State University plays a crucial role in advancing science and technology education for national development. The LIMA Campus strengthens that mission by grounding students’ learning in both academic rigour and hands-on experience.
The spirit of innovation is evident at BatStateU, as it sets its sights on a high-tech future in education—offering new engineering disciplines and advanced technology programs that respond to the needs of our time, including the integration of AI to drive inclusive and sustainable growth.
In support of this long-term vision, Aboitiz Economic Estates has allocated 10 hectares within LIMA Estate for the university’s expansion—paving the way for a flagship academic hub that will grow alongside the estate’s dynamic community of industries, entrepreneurs, and professionals.
This partnership also reflects a broader evolution: from economic zones as production centres to platforms for workforce development, applied research, and collaborative innovation. By integrating education, industry, and infrastructure, Aboitiz Economic Estates is redefining how industrial estates can drive meaningful progress.
The impact extends beyond Batangas. The BatStateU LIMA Campus is poised to support the over 100,000 jobs projected in and around the estate, contributing talent, knowledge, and long-term value to CALABARZON and the broader Philippine economy.
A Shared Purpose for a Stronger Nation
The launch of the BatStateU LIMA Campus marks the first time a public university in the Philippines has been fully embedded within an economic zone—co-locating with the very industries it aims to serve. It is a national model for how government, education, and private enterprise can converge to build not just careers—but the capabilities of an entire nation.
By building environments where learning and industry thrive together, said Fernandez de Mesa, we are creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that fuels not just business growth, but human potential.
Through this convergence of academic excellence and industrial opportunity, Batangas is poised to lead a new era of inclusive, innovation-led progress for the Philippines.
