Reinforcing its commitment to industry-responsive education, the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) of Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) formalized strategic partnerships with Katapult Digital Marketing, Star Digital Solutions, and Stacktrek Enterprise through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony held on June 9, 2026, at Le Monet Café, SLH Building, OLFU Valenzuela.
The partnership aims to bridge the gap between academic preparation and industry requirements by expanding opportunities for internships, mentorships, industry training, and curriculum enrichment for students under the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA).
In his opening message, CBA and College of Hospitality and Institutional Management (CHIM) Dean Ignacio Cordova underscored the University’s longstanding commitment to fostering meaningful relationships with industry stakeholders.
“Since I started working with the University, we never stopped building relationships with our industry partners,” Cordova said. “One of our best practices is building not only our curriculum but also our capacity to strengthen our knowledge system.”
He emphasized that OLFU’s educational framework is continuously shaped through collaboration with industry, creating a knowledge ecosystem that contributes to a knowledge-based economy.
“Our knowledge system is being built together with our industry partners, and we believe that through that knowledge system we can build what we call a knowledge-based economy, which can only be achieved when academe and industry converge and create something new for the community,” he added.
Representing Katapult Digital Marketing, Co-Founder Albert Buddahim highlighted the persistent gap between academic preparation and real-world workplace demands, a challenge he has observed throughout his professional engagements with various organizations.
“Students are not necessarily prepared for real-world jobs,” Buddahim said. “It is brave and brilliant for the faculty, led by Dean Cordova, to pursue this direction.”
He commended OLFU for its openness to industry collaboration and innovation, expressing confidence in the University’s potential to emerge as one of the country’s leading business schools.
“Of all the schools, you were the one who said, ‘I am open, tell me more.’ If we continue to do this, I can say that OLFU can become one of the top business schools in the country,” he remarked.
Katapult Digital Marketing Head of Human Resources Minda Basa likewise lauded OLFU’s core value of “improving man as man,” noting its alignment with the company’s own mission of “touching lives, improving life.”
“The partnership that we have today is a testament to our shared commitment,” Basa said. “As you prepare students for their future careers, it is important that there is a commitment to helping them become future leaders.”
Meanwhile, Star Digital Solutions Chief Operating Officer Scott Adrian So discussed the growing demand for digital marketing professionals and the challenges organizations face in developing talent internally.
He noted that many companies continue to experience shortages in digital marketing expertise, often requiring significant investments in training and workforce development.
“I think we are positioned correctly, with OLFU being ahead of the curve in terms of AI commerce and among the first schools to explore this area,” So said. “We are really happy to be part of the school as an industry partner.”
The ceremony concluded with a message from BSBA Program Head Arsenia Gallardo, who expressed gratitude to the partner organizations for their trust and collaboration.
“This Memorandum of Understanding is only the starting line,” Gallardo said. “It opens doors for more internships, more industry-relevant training, mentorship opportunities, and experiences that will shape our students into professionals who are ready from day one.”
The signing ceremony was also witnessed by CBA Assistant Dean Elna Barrantes, along with program heads from both the College of Business and Accountancy and the College of Hospitality and Institutional Management.
Through these partnerships, OLFU continues to strengthen its industry-academe linkages, ensuring that its graduates are equipped with relevant competencies, practical experience, and future-ready skills needed in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
Story by Raymond Lumagsao
