In celebration of National Working Students Day, Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC) launched the Career Leap Pad, a series of fully online certification programs aimed at equipping working students with specialized skills for the growing gig economy.

The Philippines will mark its first-ever National Working Students Day on 21 March 2025, honoring students who balance work and education to support themselves.

“The MMDC Career Leap Pad is designed for modern learners seeking to advance their careers despite setbacks in their college education. Through these certification programs, participants gain valuable microcredentials, serving as stepping stones to better opportunities,” MMDC Vice President Jenny Velasco-Chua said.

The program offers short certification courses in Virtual Assistance, Google Digital Marketing and E-Commerce, Adobe Content Creation, IBM Data Analytics, and Meta Social Media Marketing. These microcredentials are aimed at helping students secure jobs that align with their skills and career goals.

“The reason why people chase after certification, aside from gaining skills, is to legitimize their capabilities for potential employers,” MMDC Instructional System Design Director Noel Torregoza added.

Future programs

MMDC is also developing future programs focused on emerging technologies such as AI, robotics, and machine learning.

To ensure accessibility and convenience for working students, Career Leap Pad integrates Coursera’s high-quality courses, specializations, and micro-credentials, supported by AI-assisted learning. MMDC is also implementing an authenticator to verify students’ original work and maintain learning integrity despite AI assistance.

Upon completing the courses, students will receive guidance from career coaches to help refine their resumes, improve interview skills, and connect them with potential employers.

Enrollment is open from the 1st to the 20th of each month, with classes beginning on the first of the following month. The initial enrollment period is ongoing, with classes set to start in April. Course fees range from P5,000 to P9,000 per program.