The University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Faculty of Engineering launched the inaugural IM-PaCT 2026: UST Engineering Partners Summit, bringing together leaders from academia, industry, government, and the alumni sector in a shared commitment to advancing engineering education in the Philippines.

Held at the University of Santo Tomas on May 19, 2026 as part of the University’s 415th Foundation Anniversary celebrations, the summit takes its name from its central mission: Institutional and Multi-Sectoral Partnership for Collaboration and Transformation. It also coincides with the Faculty of Engineering's 119th founding anniversary, under the theme "ThoM-PaCT: Uniting Thomasians and Multi-Sectoral Partners as One 1NS19NIA of Excellence Towards 120."

In his opening remarks, Engineering dean prof. Angelo dela Cruz emphasized the urgency of strengthening collaboration between higher education institutions and industry. He noted that digitalization, artificial intelligence, sustainability imperatives, and rapidly evolving workforce demands continue to reshape the engineering profession. The engineer of the future can no longer be formed by classroom instruction alone," he said, stressing that meaningful reform demands sustained dialogue between the university and the world beyond its walls.

The highlight of IM-PaCT 2026 Summit is the formation of the inaugural External Advisory Committee (ExACom) of the UST Faculty of Engineering composed of fourteen companies and organizations that aims to intensify industry support for the improvement of engineering education.

ExACom is a consultative body composed of distinguished representatives from industry, government, professional organizations, and the alumni sector. Its mandate is broad and deliberate: to serve as a strategic partner of the Faculty in strengthening the relevance, quality, and responsiveness of engineering programs by providing insights into emerging industry trends, technological developments, and workforce competencies.

The formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marked a significant milestone, with the UST represented by University officials who affixed their signatures alongside those of each partner organization. Signing on behalf of UST were prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, PTRP, vice-rector for Academic Affairs; Rev. Fr. Roberto L. Luanzon Jr., O.P., SThD, DL, vice-rector for Finance and Regent of the Faculty of Engineering; and prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, dean of the Faculty of Engineering. They were joined by chief executive officers, presidents, vice presidents, and senior executives representing the partner organizations. They affirmed that ExACom is not a peripheral initiative but a priority embedded at the heart of UST's academic and administrative leadership.

The composition of the inaugural ExACom reflects the advisory committee's vision. Members span energy and power, semiconductors, telecommunications, construction and infrastructure, environmental services, and the alumni sector, a cross-sectoral lineup that mirrors the diversity of engineering disciplines the Faculty offers. The inclusion of the UST Engineering Alumni Association, Inc. is particularly significant, reinforcing the idea that alumni are not merely beneficiaries of the Faculty's legacy but active stakeholders of its future.

The opening ceremonies also featured a formal recognition of the industry partners who demonstrated exemplary support for Thomasian engineering interns during the 2025–2026 immersion cycle. Out of more than 200 Host Training Establishments, twenty-one organizations earned consistently high marks across a multi-criteria evaluation covering student engagement data, learning outcome alignment, and direct intern satisfaction ratings.

Eight award categories were conferred, including the Internship Champion Award, Career Impact Award, Collaboration Excellence Award, Engineering Convergence Award, Growth Catalyst Award, Safety Champion Award, Student Excellence Partner Award, and the Legacy Partnership Award. Two stand out as the summit's most distinguished honors.

The Student Excellence Partner Award recognizes the industry partner's dedication and exemplary commitment to ensuring an engaging, transformative, and highly valued engineering internship experience. It is given to the partners with the highest overall rating of student intern satisfaction. This year's awardees are Analog Devices (Gen. Trias) Inc., QB Mace Construction Corporation, and Eastern Telecommunications Philippines, Inc.

The Legacy Partnership Award, the highest recognition conferred during the ceremony , is given to the industry partner that consistently accommodates engineering interns throughout successive immersion cycles, exemplifying mentorship excellence and strong industry-academe collaboration. This year's awardees are Makati Development Corporation, Salinas (IM) Corporation, and Globe Telecom, Inc.

With the Faculty's 120th anniversary happening in February 2027, the summit and everything that unfolded during its opening, the ExACom MoU signings, and the awarding of industry partners serves both as a celebration of its distinguished heritage and as a declaration of its future direction. As the pioneering engineering school in the Philippines, UST's Faculty of Engineering has shaped generations of builders and innovators. Through IM-PaCT, its leadership is signaling that the next chapter will be written not in isolation, but in full partnership with the industries and communities it serves.

"Together, as One 1NS19NIA of Excellence," dean dela Cruz concluded, "let us ensure that the UST Faculty of Engineering does not merely celebrate 120 years of history, but prepares boldly for the next 120 years of innovation, service, and nation-building."

The opening ceremony gave way to the ribbon-cutting of the IM-PaCT Career Fair, in collaboration with the UST Counseling and Career Center, welcoming the graduating students and fresh graduates seeking opportunities with the summit's industry partners. Day 2 of the IM-PaCT Summit, held on May 20, 2026, featured career talks, round-table discussions with students, and consultative sessions with industry partners. Among the key topics discussed were the revised Philippine Qualifications Framework and its implications for engineering education, the growing impact of microcredentials on workforce readiness and curriculum design, improvements to the current On-the-Job Training program structure, and the potential offering of professional enhancement courses developed and delivered in partnership with ExACom members. The discussions underscored a shared resolve: that the Faculty of Engineering and its partners are not merely aligned in principle, but prepared to act together in building a more responsive, future-ready engineering education for the next generation of Thomasian engineers.