MANILA, 12 April – International gaming developer and publisher, MOONTON Games, and premier coeducational tertiary school, National University Laguna, have forged a partnership to establish a framework of cooperation and collaboration to implement esports and gaming programs for its students.

Held in National University – Laguna's Inspire Academy Lounge, the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalized the first of its kind partnership for the increased collaboration between the learning institution and the publisher to mount community events, spearhead curriculum development, and provide mutual access to relative information for the purpose of university endeavors such as immersion, internships, and researcher-student opportunities, among others. 

The MOU was penned by MOONTON Games Community Manager Ken Ryan Lee, and NU Laguna Vice President and Assistant Director for Academe - Industry Linkage Dr. Narro R. Navarro. 

"We are grateful to NU Laguna for this momentous partnership that will create a pathway for cooperation to reach new heights of academic and research excellence. This collaboration sets forth our intention to help hone our students and bridge the gap between the industry and the academe. We are thrilled for NU Laguna scholars and faculty members to be part of the efforts to further push esports and gaming education in the Philippines," said Theon Hsu, MOONTON Cares Director. 

“National University Laguna’s core is sports, wellness, and sustainability; esports has been part of the university’s DNA and has been dubbed as a great equalizer in the sports community. NU Laguna’s collaboration with MOONTON Games will pave the way for great opportunities and strategic advancement for the students and the university. We are thrilled about the projects and other opportunities this collaboration will bring. National University Laguna and MOONTON Games will work together in bringing esports in the forefront,” said Navarro. 

Also present during the ceremonial signing were NU Laguna Managing Director Benjamin F. Uichico, Senior Academic Director Dr. Josefina G. San Miguel, and Senior Director for Administration Jose Ricardo SA. Ocampo. 

Among the first few programs to be mounted in NU Laguna will be the esports and gaming journalism workshops in partnership with the Philippines' esteemed esports and gaming journalists who will provide participants with insights on Media Ethics, Basic Sportswriting, Mobile Journalism, Making Sense of Journalism in Today’s TikTok Age, and Pros and Cons of using AI tools in Journalism. The program will launch in May 2024. 

Educational workshops and partnerships are part of the corporate social responsibility programs of MOONTON Cares, the philanthropic arm of the company to promote positive societal, humanitarian, and environmental change to build a more sustainable future for the next generation.