Mapúa University

Mapúa University (Filipino: Pamantasang Mapúa), also known simply as Mapúa or MU, is a private research-oriented non-sectarian university located in Metro Manila, Philippines. The university was founded in 1925 by the first registered Filipino architect, Tomás Mapúa, a graduate of Cornell University in New York, US. In 2000, the university was acquired by the Yuchengco Group of Companies.

The university's main campus is located in the historic Intramuros district of Manila, with a satellite campus located in Makati. The university is home to 21 degree-granting colleges and one secondary school department. It has nine programs recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development. It also has 11 programs accredited by ABET, becoming the first university in Southeast Asia to receive accreditation from the organization. The university also owns and operates the Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna, the Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, and the Malayan High School of Science.

Founded as the Mapúa Institute of Technology on January 25, 1925, by Tomás B. Mapúa, a graduate of Cornell University and the first registered Filipino architect and civil engineer Gonzalo T. Vales as an Architecture and Civil engineering school, it is the first institution in the Philippines to offer a Bachelor's degree in Architecture. When the school opened in 1925, there were 75 students and 15 faculty members. Classes were held in a rented commercial building in Carriedo Street near FEATI University in Quiapo, Manila. In 1928, the Mapúa High School was established in Doroteo Jose Street through Rizal Avenue in Santa Cruz, Manila. In 1930, Mapúa joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association as the Mapúa Cardinals.

During World War II, Mapúa's Manila campus was used as a garrison by the Japanese forces during the occupation of Manila, and all classes and organizations were suspended. The Institute would continue to suffer throughout the war as the effort of the institute to continue the studies of the students were suspended and Senior students were forced to prematurely graduate. The institute's campus was also severely damaged. As a part of the rehabilitation program, the former "De Luxe Fashion School" in Doroteo Jose was leased in 1948 and housed the high school department until 1998.

In 1951, the Mapúa family acquired a piece of land from the La Corporación Fransicana in Intramuros. The site eventually became the institute's main campus, opening in 1956 with construction completed in 1963. All college programs in the Doroteo José campus were relocated to the Intramuros campus in 1973.

Tomás B. Mapúa died on December 22, 1965, and his son, Óscar M. Mapúa Sr., a graduate in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, took over the presidency until his death in 1998.

During this period, the institute gained prominence as an engineering school as it took the top 10 and top 20 slots in most licensing exams (such as those from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) since 1973 for Architecture and Engineering). It also achieved the highest passing rates in the board exams among other competing schools in architecture and engineering.

Under the presidency of Oscar Mapúa Jr., grandson of Tomás B. Mapúa, the Mapúa family sold the institute to the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC) headed by Alfonso T. Yuchengco on March 16, 2000.