Redesigning UST's Adopt-a-School Program for Greater Impact

At UST, building for Boundless Impact and transforming lives is a mission in practice, supported by corporate strategy and our core pillars of Humanity, Humility, and Integrity. Our future-focused commitment to the betterment of individuals and societies on a global scale is the driving force behind all of our innovations, initiatives, and programs. Empowering all students through equitable access to quality education enables them to maximize their potential and advance their knowledge and skills. Our Adopt-a-School program was designed to support school infrastructures, onsite teachers and classrooms, and curriculums in underprivileged schools throughout the APAC region.

During the Pandemic, education systems in rural regions were at a particular disadvantage from having limited or no access to the facilities and resources necessary to transition to a virtual learning environment. The Adopt-a-School program was bolstered to meet these challenges head-on. We installed computer labs in government schools, created virtual libraries, and provided laptops, tablets, and desktops equipped with solar-powered batteries, enabling remote access for all children. Partnerships were created to set up community-based learning and common study centers with satellite-based education systems and all necessary equipment for continuous instruction. In addition, we offered training and skill development opportunities for educators through remote learning and virtual volunteering.

To address the unique needs of special education students, we began to provide in-person safe care, teacher support, and scholarship programs to children in autistic centers, shelters, services homes, and adopted schools. We scaled our program to offer mentorship and life skill coaching through technical webinars, and created new programs to train graduating students and their mothers in valuable skills. We also bridged the digital divide for female students in service homes offering scholarships for continued education. This and other scholarship programs empowered over 250 students to pursue their education.

The Project Management Institute Kerala Chapter formally recognized UST's Adopt-a-School program, which was awarded the PMI Kerala Community Project of the Year Award. As a result of the new offerings designed into the program, we expanded from 37 to 57 adopted schools, reaching over 36,000 students and educators within that year, and growing.