Fission Program - Meralco Power Academy

The Meralco Power Academy launched the FISSION Program (Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering) in 2023 as a response to the need for nuclear workforce development. The Academy understands the importance of early investment in human capital and technical skills development. This ensures sustainable integration of nuclear power in the Philippine energy sector.

The FISSION program is designed to develop Filipino nuclear engineering talent through world-class education and international industry exposure. The program provides selected Filipino engineers with international scholarships in nuclear engineering education and also includes access to global internship opportunities from leading nuclear institutions and operating organizations worldwide.

The program is among One Meralco’s contributions in further building the momentum for nuclear energy development in the Philippines. MPA and Meralco’s Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan formally presented the program during the Giga Summit in 2023 to reinforce the company’s commitment to supporting the country’s nuclear energy preparedness.

The FISSION program follows a structured pathway that combines academic training and industry exposure. The first phase focuses on academics and internship, while the second phase enables integration of acquired skills and expertise locally. Upon completion of the scholarship and internship, the future nuclear engineers are expected to return to the Philippines to share their knowledge and render their expertise with One Meralco. With their nuclear energy work for the company, they are able to contribute to the country’s nuclear energy development.

Since its launch, the FISSION program has deployed a total of 12 scholars to various international universities. The Academy has forged international academic partnerships with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA), Harbin Engineering University (China), Ontario Tech University (Canada), Université Paris-Saclay (France), and KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (South Korea).

Scholars were deployed to these institutions to pursue their master’s degree in nuclear engineering, where they are expected to acquire knowledge on advanced nuclear laboratories, research on small and micro modular reactors, and industry-level training.