Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Nearly a thousand student-led ventures and a sustained commitment to experiential entrepreneurship education have earned Central Mindanao University CMU a place among the country’s top-performing institutions under the Wadhwani Entrepreneurship (WEN) Ignite Program.
Recognized as the Top 4 WEN Ignite Institution in the Philippines for 2023–2025, CMU joined a select group of higher education institutions acknowledged by the Wadhwani Foundation for advancing innovation-driven entrepreneurship education and empowering students to transform ideas into viable ventures.
The recognition was announced through the foundation’s official Facebook page on May 26, which unveiled the Top 10 Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Partner Institutions in the country. CMU ranked fourth nationwide, following Caraga State University, Technological Institute of the Philippines, and the University of Cabuyao.
The ranking was based on actual program deployment data from 2023 to 2025, including the number of cohorts created, faculty deployments, student enrollments, and student ventures developed through the Wadhwani Ignite platform.
Through the College of Business and Management’s Department of Business Administration, CMU generated 996 completed student ventures, demonstrating the university’s growing impact in fostering entrepreneurial thinking and innovation among learners.
According to the Wadhwani Foundation, the award recognizes institutions that have gone beyond traditional teaching methods and embraced entrepreneurship education that equips students to think critically, solve real-world problems, validate ideas, and create ventures with purpose.
The foundation noted that these institutions did not simply adopt a platform but built meaningful learning experiences that translated classroom concepts into practical entrepreneurial outcomes.
Dr. Daryl Jane A. Caballero, Dean, CBM, welcomed the recognition, describing it as a reflection of the university’s commitment to transformative learning and innovation.
“This recognition honors institutions that have transformed entrepreneurship education through the WEN Ignite Program. By moving beyond traditional instruction, the initiative cultivates innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, venture creation, and real-world impact among students,” she said.
This achievement follows another milestone for the university. Earlier this year, six faculty members from the College of Business and Management were named among the Top 10 Faculty Champions of the WEN Ignite Program in Southern Philippines. [Iyren Dalipe Neri]
Source: Wadhwani Foundation
