Filipino and Japanese culture share a similar outlook in terms of education. Both believe that education is a legacy. This is one reason why International Elevator and Equipment Inc. a Group Company of Mitsubishi Electric in the Philippines, launched its scholarship program through the IEE Foundation, Inc.
In line with the Mitsubishi Electric’s mantra of “Changes for the Better”, the Foundation envisions that the scholarship program will help improve the lives of the company’s employees and their families. It aims to provide opportunities for long-time employees’ children to gain access to top universities in the country, acquire better education, and build a successful career in the future.
Established in 2011, the Foundation offers the scholarship program to children of qualified employees. The scholarship is applicable to Engineering courses in De La Salle University and Mapua Institute of Technology.
Recently, the program expanded and now offers scholarship for master’s degrees, as qualified employees can now apply for this assistance.
Applicable schools for the master’s degrees now extends to Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, San Beda College, San Sebastian College, St. Paul University, St. Scholastica’s College, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Cebu Institute of Technology, and University of San Carlos-Cebu.
Two graduates from the scholarship program, Jamille Kaye Villamin, and Eloise Margaret Reynaldo, shared their journey and the key takeaways they gleaned as scholars of the IEE Foundation. Both scholars are optimist of their brighter futures, grateful of the education and employment opportunities they have received.
Jamille “Jam” Kaye Villamin, 22, is an Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate of De La Salle University-Manila. Foremost of what she has achieved as a scholar was being able to move out of her comfort zone and face her fear of public speaking.
Eloise Margaret “Marga” Reynaldo also graduated from De La Salle University with a Bachelor’s Degree in ECE like Villamin. For Marga, what she learned most at university was the value of relationship building.
A confessed introvert, Jam said joining an organization while in college gave her an opportunity to meet more people, and improve her social and communication skills which she later on realized were essential in being successful professionally.
For Jam, being an IEE scholar is a privilege and a stepping stone. “I was privileged to study in a prestigious school. As a scholar, it helped our family a lot, especially financially. They gave us allowance for books, for meals and transportation. They also gave us a laptop. That saved us a lot of money,” Jam recalled.
Today, Jam works in IEE as a Project Information System officer. She plans to become a professional ECE Engineer and learn Nihongo to become an asset for the company.
“At the academe, my network and connections widened. I learned that interpersonal skills are important and even more so in the workplace,” Reynaldo shared.
True enough, these are helping Marga in her position as Sales Engineer at IEE. She plans to take up a master’s degree in business soon to advance her learning.
IEE offers this benefit because it sees its employees as its primary assets, the company said in a statement.
Recognizing the importance of education for future growth, the company makes it possible for employees and their family members to build their dreams as a way of expressing gratitude as well for their years of service to the company.
Since 1969, IEE has handled the design, sales, installation, and maintenance of Mitsubishi Electric elevators and escalators in the Philippines. It ventured into air conditioning in 1978 and has expanded into ventilation and cooling.
Jam Villamin and Marga Reynaldo are just two of the recipients of IEE Foundation’s scholarship program. As it achieves its 50th anniversary, IEE is poised to grow the effort in its commitment to not just be an innovative leader, but equally, a leader with a heart for its people.