VITRO Inc. Launches VITRO Academy to Empower Future Filipino Data Center Leaders

VITRO Inc., the data center arm of the PLDT Group and a wholly-owned subsidiary of ePLDT, proudly announces the launch of VITRO Academy, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and the demands of the Philippines’ rapidly growing data center industry. This micro-credential program represents the PLDT Group’s long-term commitment to developing a sustainable pipeline of talent to support the industry’s growth and further position the Philippines as a premier digital destination in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Through VITRO Academy, we are investing in the future of our industry by shaping the next generation of Filipino data center professionals. This program reflects our mission to drive innovation, foster talent, and establish the Philippines as a hub for data center excellence,” said Victor S. Genuino, President and CEO of VITRO Inc. and ePLDT.

In its initial phase, VITRO Academy has partnered with five renowned educational institutions: National University, Asia Pacific College, Ateneo de Naga University, Far Eastern University-Roosevelt, and Wesleyan University. These partnerships were chosen based on the institutions' commitment to academic excellence, research, and community service.

Since its launch in July 2024, the program has enabled 371 students to complete their initial training, with the first batch of 56 passers from the National University and Asia Pacific College having received their certifications. In the coming weeks, more student passers from partner schools will be recognized, reinforcing VITRO Academy’s mission to nurture the country’s next generation of engineering talent.

VITRO Academy equips aspiring engineers with skills in mechanical, electrical, network engineering, and emerging ICT technologies, through three structured levels of certification. Level 1 introduces data center fundamentals, Level 2 focuses on advanced infrastructure design and management, and Level 3 covers specialized training in sophisticated architectures, cybersecurity, and emerging data center technologies. The program includes lectures, hands-on workshops, and mentorship from VITRO's senior executives with over 20 years of data center operational experience.

VITRO Inc. envisions expanding this initiative by collaborating with more educational institutions nationwide. This initial partnership marks the start of a broader effort to train more students and further enrich engineering curricula in the Philippines, equipping graduates with the skills needed for employment in the data center sector.

Graduates of VITRO Academy benefit from a highly immersive internship program that provides young engineers with the unique opportunity to apply their learnings in a real-world setting, paving the way for a promising career at VITRO Inc. VITRO Academy embodies VITRO Inc.’s vision of empowering Filipino talent to thrive in the digital age while advancing the Philippines’ position as a key player in the global digital economy.

VITRO Academy mirrors another PLDT Group program, the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), the country’s first and longest-running Philippine industry-academe linkage program. For the past 21 years, SWEEP has helped produce industry-ready graduates or technopreneurs by leveraging the PLDT Group’s network, infrastructure, and technologies.

VITRO Academy and SWEEP are aligned with the PLDT Group's much broader program to promote STEM education, to help the Philippines achieve UNSDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.