SM Prime, UPLB team up for sustainability scholarship

SM Prime Holdings Inc. and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) have joined hands to promote sustainable development in the country. Through a scholarship grant, SM Prime aims to assist select students from low-income households in Pasay City to pursue undergraduate degrees in Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology (BSHE) and Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF) courses, which are geared towards sustainability. The scholarship will provide better employment prospects and help reduce poverty and inequality, which are major obstacles to sustainable development.

UPLB Chancellor Dr. Jose Camacho, Jr. believes that education, especially in sustainability-related fields of studies, plays a significant role in social and economic mobility. He shared his optimism about the partnership, citing how the scholarship will enable more students to pursue their studies in areas related to sustainability such as environmental science, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. By investing in education in these areas, they are preparing a new generation of leaders who will have the knowledge and skills to address the complex environmental and social challenges facing our world today.

The partnership between SM Prime and UPLB is a testament to the shared commitment of both institutions towards promoting sustainability and creating a better future for the next generation. SM Prime AVP and Head of Marketing, PR, and Communications Rida Reyes Castillo said that by supporting the education of would-be scholars, SM Prime hopes to create ripples of social good within families and communities, ultimately contributing to the development of a more sustainable and equitable society.

Aside from enabling students to pursue their education without financial burden, the UPLB chancellor believes that the scholarship can produce competent leaders capable of solving complex environmental and social challenges and create a pipeline of innovative researchers. Fostering collaborations and innovation in sustainability between the academic community and the private sector can lead to new environmentally and socially responsible products, technologies, and services that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

SM Prime believes that UPLB would be the best partner to support its sustainability initiatives in promoting a conducive learning environment while honing new Iskolars ng Bayan leaders committed to knowledge creation and public service.

The SM Prime Sustainability Scholarship is open to students from Pasay City, under UPLB's BSHE and BSF programs, with an annual gross family income of not more than PhP150,000.00. Interested applicants may contact the UPLB OSG +63 49 536 3209 or email at osg.uplb@up.edu.ph. The partnership formed under the scholarship grant continues SM Prime’s pursuit of sustainable development, providing access to quality education for all and creating a pool of proactive human resources who can responsibly carry out and balance the economic, social, and environmental aspects of a society’s sustainable development aspirations.