PowerConvos is a guest lecture series designed to strengthen academic partnerships and connect students with power industry experts and leaders shaping the future of energy. Through engaging discussions led by Meralco executives and power industry experts, the program gives students a closer look at where the energy sector is headed and what it takes to build a career in it.

The program aspires to bring real-world perspectives into academic settings, helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice while supporting energy workforce development across the Philippines.

Guest Lecture Series to Strengthen Academic and Industry Collaboration

Launched in 2024 at Mindanao State University–General Santos, PowerConvos began as the MPA's “Guest Lecture Series”. It is a knowledge-sharing initiative of the Meralco Power Academy that brings industry expertise directly to students through lectures, forums, and interactive discussions. As part of the academy's broader academic partnership efforts, the program aims to strengthen collaboration between educational institutions and the energy sector and to prepare students for the realities of a rapidly evolving industry.

Through the series, students hear directly from Meralco leaders and engineers about where the energy industry is headed — be it in grid modernization and sustainability or in the skills shaping tomorrow's workforce.

The program also highlights career advancement opportunities and the skills needed to succeed in the modern workplace. The program brings students face-to-face with real-world industry challenges and emerging trends, helping them see how their academic foundations can translate into meaningful careers.

The event reinforced the shared commitment of the academy and its academic partners to develop future engineers, innovators, and leaders who will help shape the country's energy future. It showcased how academic partnerships can create meaningful opportunities for students by connecting them with industry practitioners and exposing them to real-world applications of engineering concepts.

2026: PowerConvos Expands Industry-Academe Collaboration

Building on the strong foundation established through its MSU partnerships, PowerConvos continued to place greater emphasis on the future of the Philippine energy sector and the technologies transforming it.

Held at MSU, the first of the PowerConvos of 2026 gathered more than 1,000 engineering students for discussions led by Meralco President and Meralco Power Academy President Ronnie L. Aperocho and Meralco Senior Vice President Ferdinand O. Geluz. The sessions explored grid modernization, digital transformation, automation, data analytics, cyber-secure infrastructure, and customer-centric innovation, giving students a deeper understanding of how the energy industry is evolving.

2025: Building Partnerships, Inspiring Future Engineers

Fast forward to 2025, and the Guest Lecture Series has been rebranded as PowerConvos in Mindanao, a significant milestone for the Academy that expands its advocacy reach in the region. The first PowerConvos strengthened academic partnerships with the Mindanao State University (MSU) System through Memoranda of Understanding with MSU-Iligan, MSU-Marawi, and MSU-General Santos. These collaborations paved the way for knowledge-sharing activities, technical workshops, equipment donations, and industry engagement that brought classroom learning closer to real-world practice.

Where the Next Generation Plugs In

PowerConvos is only getting started. The Academy looks forward to expanding its academic partnerships, creating greater opportunities for students to gain direct access to industry leaders and technical experts.

Following its successful launch at MSU, the initiative continued its momentum with PowerConvos: Industry Meets Academe at De La Salle University in July 2026, reaching even more future engineers through meaningful industry dialogue.

As PowerConvos grows, the Academy remains committed to developing a future-ready energy workforce by connecting students with the knowledge, perspectives, and innovations shaping the Philippine energy sector.