Mapúa University 

(Filipino: Pamantasang Mapúa), also known simply as Mapúa or MU, is

a private research-oriented non-sectarian university located in Metro Manila, Philippines. The
university was founded in 1925 by the first registered Filipino architect, Tomás Mapúa, a graduate
of Cornell University in New York. In 2000, the university was acquired by the Yuchengco Group of
Companies.
The university's main campus is located in the historic district of Intramuros in Manila, while
a satellite campus is located in Makati. The university is home to 10 degree-granting colleges and
one secondary school department. It has nine programs recognized by the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) as Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development. It also has 11 programs
accredited by ABET, becoming the first university in Southeast Asia to receive accreditation from the
organization.[6] The university also owns and operates the Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna, the
Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, and the Malayan High School of Science.

History[edit]
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Early years[edit]
The institution was founded as the Mapúa Institute of Technology on January 25, 1925, by Tomás
B. Mapúa, a graduate of Cornell University and the first registered Filipino architect and civil
engineer Gonzalo T. Vales. At first, the institute only offered Architecture and Civil
engineering programs. It is the first educational institution in the Philippines to offer a Bachelor's
degree in Architecture.[7] When the school opened in 1925, there were 75 students and 15 faculty
members. Classes were held in a rented commercial building in Carriedo Street near FEATI
University in Quiapo, Manila. In 1928, the Mapúa High School was established in Doroteo Jose
Street through Rizal Avenue in Santa Cruz, Manila. In 1930, Mapúa joined the National Collegiate
Athletic Association as the Mapúa Cardinals.[7]

World War II and post-war development[edit]

During World War II, Mapúa's Manila campus was used as a garrison by the Japanese forces during
the occupation of Manila, and all classes and organizations were suspended. The Institute would
continue to suffer throughout the war as the effort of the institute to continue the studies of the
students were suspended and Senior students were forced to prematurely graduate. The institute's
campus was also severely damaged. As a part of the rehabilitation program, the former "De Luxe
Fashion School" in Doroteo Jose was leased in 1948 and housed the high school department until
1998.
In 1951, the Mapúa family acquired a piece of land from the La Corporación
Fransicana in Intramuros. The site eventually became the institute's main campus, opening in 1956
with construction completed in 1963. All college programs in the Doroteo José campus were
relocated to the Intramuros campus in 1973.
Tomás B. Mapúa died on December 22, 1965, and his son, Óscar M. Mapúa Sr., a graduate in civil
engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, took over the presidency until his death
in 1998.[7]
During this period, the institute gained prominence as an engineering school as it took the top 10
and top 20 slots in most licensing exams (such as those from the Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC) since 1973 for Architecture and Engineering). It also achieved the highest
passing rates in the board exams among other competing schools in architecture and engineering.[7]

Acquisition by the Yuchengco Group of Companies[edit]

Under the presidency of Oscar Mapúa Jr., grandson of Tomás B. Mapúa, the Mapúa family sold the
institute to the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC) headed by Alfonso T. Yuchengco on March
16, 2000.[8]
In 2002, the old RCBC Building on Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati was purchased and converted into
the Makati campus of the university. where the School of Information Technology (SoIT) was
originally from the Intramuros Campus. As part of promoting the School of IT, the Mapúa IT Center
was established. Offering 2-year Associate degree that eventually would land (ladderized) a 4-
year Bachelor's degree IT degree in Mapúa. Meanwhile, Mapúa High School was closed in 2005.
Along with the establishment of the Malayan High School of Science and Malayan Colleges Laguna,
the new ownership intended to encompass all its educational institutions under the name Malayan
University.[9] Pending the institute's elevation to university status, the institute was planned to take
the name Malayan Colleges in the meantime. According to the president, the renaming was a step
towards institute's goal of becoming a university.[9] The proposal was controversial, with students,
faculty, and alumni protesting against the name change on February 14, 2005.[10] The spokesperson
of the National Alliance of Mapua Alumni (NAMA) also alleged that the Yuchengcos wanted to
change the institute's name to escape tax liabilities and sought a congressional probe against the
renaming.[9][11] The institute denied the allegations, and clarified that the name "Mapúa Institute of
Technology" will be applied to the College of Engineering, Architecture and IT.[12] The legal name of
the institute was changed to Malayan Colleges, although the entire institute continued to operate
under the Mapúa brand.[13]

University era[edit]
On May 18, 2017, the Commission on Higher Education granted the institute university status; the
institute was renamed as Mapúa University.[14]
On January 8, 2018, YGC and Ayala Corporation, through a joint press statement, announced the
merger of Ayala Education and iPeople (IPO), Mapúa's parent company, with IPO being the
surviving entity. The merger was completed on May 2, 2019, with the Yuchengco Group of
Companies owning 51.3% of iPeople and Ayala Corporation with 33.5% share of the said company.[1]
On August 1, 2021, the old Makati campus at Gil Puyat Avenue was closed. It relocated its site at a
former Bormaheco property along Pablo Ocampo Street, which was acquired and converted by
the Yuchengco Group in 2018.[15]

Campus[edit]

The main Mapúa campus in Intramuros, Manila.

Outside the Intramuros campus.

Intramuros[edit]
The main Mapúa campus is located within the walls of Intramuros, Manila. The Intramuros campus
hosts most of the university's colleges. The campus has undergone several renovations and is
equipped for further studies in the fields of engineering.
The Manila Campus consists of 7 buildings:

 The Juan Mapúa Memorial Hall (Administration Building) houses the Registrar's Office
and the Treasury
 The South Building houses the multimedia arts and sciences, digital cinema, industrial
engineering, civil engineering, environmental and sanitary engineering, architecture and
industrial design facilities, and senior high school classrooms.
 The Southwest Building serves as the intersection of the West and South Building. It
also houses the Multimedia and Visual Arts Facilities and Senior High School
classrooms.
 The West Building houses the canteen, the Physics department, audio visual (AV)
rooms, the library, and Senior High School classrooms.
 The Northwest Building serves as the intersection of West and North Building
 The North Building houses the Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering,
Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Earth and
Material Science and Engineering, Psychology Department, Graduate Studies Facilities,
and Senior High School classrooms.
 The Yuchengco Innovation Center houses the institute's new laboratories for research
and development purposes. It stands on where the Student Pavilion used to be.
 The Southeast Building serves as an extension of the South Building that directly faces
the East Building. It houses the security office, bookstore, and the admission's office.
 Gymnasium: The place where Physical Education activities are held, as well as game
and concert events, and academic advising proceedings during enrollments.
 St. Rita's Chapel: The chapel near the North entrance of the institute. It is where masses
are regularly held and extends to the east side as the Guidance's office.
Makati[edit]
Former Mapúa IT Center in Makati (taken 2005)

The Mapúa campus located in Makati occupies a 5,114-square-meter (55,050 sq ft) site along Pablo

Ocampo Street.[15][16] The lot was previously owned by Bormaheco before being purchased by the
university in 2018. It previously occupied the Mapúa Information Technology Center (MITC) at the
corner of Gil Puyat Avenue and Reposo Street from 2002 to 2021.[17] Accessible from the campus are
malls and recreational centers such as the Ayala Center. The new 8-storey Makati campus hosts the
senior high school, School of Information Technology (SoIT) and E.T. Yuchengco School of
Business and Management.[18][19]