(From left) DLSU Student Success Center director Dr. Ron R. Resurreccion; College of Computer Studies assistant dean for external affairs and Lasaliian mission Shirley Chu; College of Computer Studies dean Dr. Ethel Ong; provost and vice president for academics Dr. Robert C. Roleda; Mynt chief people officer Robert Conrad Gonzales; and chief information security Miguel Geronilla
De La Salle University (DLSU) and GCash are partnering to strengthen tech talent development through the NextGen Tech Builders Program, an industry-designed fintech engineering elective that brings real-world technology practices into the university classroom.
As DLSU’s Term 1 classes starts, DLSU undergraduate students will gain hands-on experience with the technologies and development practices used to build and operate large-scale digital platforms.
The elective is part of a deeper collaboration between DLSU and GCash, giving students the opportunity to develop fintech engineering skills while still in university. The program combines classroom learning with practical work, including a fintech capstone project where students can apply what they learn to real-world challenges.
DLSU students also joined a forum introducing the new elective and its fintech track. Ding, a DLSU alumnus and member of the GCash Cadetship Program Batch 2023, shared their career journey and experience in fintech, giving students a firsthand look at opportunities in the industry.
Through the program, students will learn technologies commonly used in modern fintech development, including Java, Spring Boot, cloud computing, and microservices. GCash will provide course materials and cloud-based laboratory environments to give students hands-on fintech industry-wide experiences, practices, and systems.
The initiative builds on the GCash technology cadetship model by bringing industry training into the university curriculum. This gives students earlier exposure to the skills and practices they can expect to use in their future technology careers.
“DLSU is committed to preparing our students not only with strong academic foundations but also with the practical skills and industry exposure they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. Through this collaboration with GCash, we are creating opportunities for our students to learn directly from industry practices and better prepare for meaningful careers in fintech and technology,” said DLSU College of Computer Studies dean Dr. Ethel Ong.
Students who complete the GCash elective will also have access to fast-tracked pathways into technical roles at GCash, creating a direct link between their academic experience and potential career opportunities.
For GCash, the partnership reflects its broader commitment to developing the talent needed to support the country’s growing digital economy. By working closely with universities, GCash is helping strengthen the pipeline of Filipino technology professionals while bringing industry experience closer to the classroom.
“Technology talent is critical to the continued growth of the digital economy, and we believe that developing that talent should begin well before students enter the workforce. Through the NextGen Tech Builders Program, we are bringing our industry experience into the classroom to help students build practical, relevant skills and create a stronger pipeline of locally trained fintech engineers,” shared Mynt chief people officer, Robert Gonzales.
The NextGen Tech Builders Program represents a closer connection between university education and industry practice, giving DLSU students an opportunity to develop specialized fintech engineering skills while still in school. Through the collaboration, DLSU and GCash aim to contribute to a stronger pipeline of locally trained technology talent prepared for the demands of the digital economy.
For more information, visit https://www.gcash.com.