by Alvin Paul C. Patarlas, OfCom Intern | Dec 01 2025

Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT) formally entered into a partnership with Advance Energy through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) held on November 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the CEBA Board Room. The event, which succeeded a Company and Career Talk at the COE Amphitheater, was organized in coordination with the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT Career Center.
The ceremony was attended by Chancellor Alizedney M. Ditucalan, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Pamela F. Resurreccion, College of Engineering (COE) Dean Dr. Jefferson A. Hora, COE faculty members, Advance Energy HR Director Mr. Wilfredo “Boyet” Estrada, and members of the Advance Energy Board of Directors and associates.
During the program, COE Dean Dr. Hora shared a story about his long-standing connection with Advance Energy HR Director Mr. Estrada, whom he has known for many years through the company where Mr. Estrada previously worked. Dr. Hora expressed his gratitude and said he was pleased that Mr. Estrada reached out to him again, this time under the new company he now works for, Advance Energy, which helped make the ceremony possible. "Through this partnership, we envision not only opportunities for students, internships, recruitment, and the employment, but also collaborative research, and faculty engagement, and joint innovation," he said.
“I hope this kind of relationship, built on the personal connection between Dean Hora and HR Director Estrada, will truly strengthen the call for deeper collaboration between 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT and the industry,” emphasized Chancellor Alizedney Ditucalan, who represented 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT during the signing.

The Chancellor also highlighted that 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT and Advance Energy share similar core values and expressed hope that future students who will undergo their OJT at Advance Energy will embody and uphold these shared principles.
HR Director Mr. Wilfredo Estrada praised 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT students and shared that he had long been hoping for this partnership to take place. “The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT produces world-class engineering talents that have the balance of skill, curiosity, resilience, and humility; that’s why upon joining Advance Energy, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT is already at the back of my mind,” he said.
The signed MOA formalizes a partnership that provides 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT engineering students with industry-aligned training, internship opportunities, and professional development activities. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT will endorse students, coordinate programs, and support these initiatives, while Advance Energy will conduct training sessions, site tours, technical workshops, and provide feedback to help enhance student competencies. Overall, the agreement aims to strengthen student career development, support Advance Energy’s recruitment efforts, and promote collaborative innovation.
A technical exam for participating engineering students was also administered by Advance Energy after the MOA signing. This exam provides an employment opportunity for 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT students.

Through this collaboration, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT and Advance Energy reaffirm their shared commitment to developing competent, industry-ready engineers and fostering long-term partnerships that drive innovation. With the MOA now in effect, the University looks forward to opening more meaningful opportunities for its students and strengthening its ties with industry leaders in the years ahead.