Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Central Mindanao University (CMU) has been recognized as a Top 4 institution in the Southern Philippines under the Wadhwani Foundation’s WEN Ignite Program, and six faculty members from the CMU–College of Business and Management (CBM) have been recognized as part of the Top 10 Faculty Champions for 2023–2026.
The recognition was announced in the foundation’s official posts on April 29 and 30, which celebrated educators and partner institutions across Southern Philippines for their contributions to entrepreneurship education, venture creation, and student empowerment.
CMU was cited as a Top 4 institution in Southern Philippines, recording 385 student ventures created and reaching 1,773 students through the WEN Ignite Program.
Alongside the institutional recognition, six CMU-CBM faculty members were named among the Top 10 Faculty Champions. They are Junry Bacquiled (Top 2), Nicole Grace Sarausa (Top 4), Almarie Esmeralda (Top 6), Johanna Langot (Top 7), Keirwenn Andaya (Top 8), and Leanne Aireca Tumaroy (Top 9).
Collectively, the faculty champions facilitated 74 cohorts, reached 3,310 students, and supported the creation of 704 student ventures under the Wadhwani Entrepreneur (WEN) Program since 2024.
Meanwhile, CBM Dean Daryl Jane A. Caballero expressed pride in the achievement, saying: “Super proud! As expected, our faculty did not take their task casually; they poured their hearts into it. The number of CBM faculty who made it to the Top 10 speaks volumes of their commitment, passion, and excellence.” She added that the accomplishment is deeply fulfilling for the college and university administration, noting that “countless business ideas born out of ordinary coursework across disciplines are now taking shape as promising, impactful ventures and innovations.”
In separate interviews, the top 2 awardee, Mr. Junry Bacquiled said, the recognition affirms the impact of his work beyond the classroom. “I am deeply honored and sincerely grateful to the Wadhwani Foundation for recognizing my work as part of the Top 2 among the Top 10 Faculty Champions of WEN Ignite — Southern Philippines (2023–2026),” he said. Mr. Bacquiled added that the recognition reflects both personal effort and the supportive environment within CMU-CBM, noting that it strengthens his commitment to further improve and create meaningful impact for students and the university community.
The top 4 awardee, Ms. Nicole Grace Sarausa, emphasized that the recognition is a shared achievement. “To be recognized as one of the Top Faculty Champions of WEN Ignite-Southern Philippines (2023–2026) is both an inspiration and a privilege I do not take lightly,” she said. Ms. Sarausa stressed that the distinction reflects the collective efforts of students, colleagues, and the university. “The distinction does not solely belong to me; it belongs to all the students I have helped along the way,” she added.
The Wadhwani Foundation is a global nonprofit organization focused on accelerating economic development in emerging economies through entrepreneurship, innovation, small business growth, and skills development. The WEN Ignite Program aims to scale venture creation and job generation across partner institutions.
CMU formalized its partnership with the foundation through a Memorandum of Agreement signed on August 19, 2024, facilitated by the Office of International Relations and initiated by CBM Dean Daryl Jane A. Caballero.
Selection of the Top 10 Faculty Champions was based on a data-driven evaluation using a Power BI analytics dashboard, with emphasis on venture creation, student reach, and program implementation to ensure objective, transparent, and impact-based recognition. [Iyren Dalipe Neri with information from the College of Business and Management]
