De La Salle University (DLSU) and GCash are bringing fintech industry training into the university classroom through a new elective designed to give students practical experience in building and operating digital financial platforms.
The partnership, called the NextGen Tech Builders Program, introduces an industry-designed fintech engineering elective under DLSU’s College of Computer Studies. The program is intended to help students develop specialized technical skills while still in university and create a stronger pipeline of homegrown technology talent for the Philippines’ growing digital economy.
DLSU’s Term 1 classes begin on September 3, 2026, with undergraduate students set to gain hands-on exposure to technologies and development practices used in large-scale digital platforms.
GCash brings fintech engineering into the classroom
Unlike traditional academic courses that may focus primarily on theoretical concepts, the new elective incorporates practices drawn from the fintech industry.
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Students will learn technologies commonly used in modern financial technology development, including Java, Spring Boot, cloud computing, and microservices. GCash will also provide course materials and cloud-based laboratory environments to support practical learning.
The program will culminate in a fintech capstone project, allowing students to apply their technical knowledge to real-world challenges. This gives participants an opportunity to experience how technology concepts are translated into systems and applications used in financial services.
The partnership also includes exposure to the broader fintech industry. DLSU students recently participated in a forum introducing the elective and its fintech track, where a DLSU alumnus and member of the GCash Cadetship Program Batch 2023 shared their career experience in fintech.
From university training to potential fintech careers
One of the more significant aspects of the program is its connection to potential employment.
Students who complete the GCash elective will have access to fast-tracked pathways into technical roles at GCash, creating a more direct link between classroom training and career opportunities.
GCash introduced the new fintech engineering elective to DLSU students, highlighting opportunities for practical industry learning and future career development.
This builds on GCash’s existing technology cadetship model, but moves industry exposure earlier in the talent-development process. Instead of waiting until graduates enter the workforce to develop specialized fintech skills, the program introduces those practices while students are still completing their degrees.
For technology students, this can provide a clearer understanding of the skills expected in fintech engineering roles, particularly as financial institutions and digital platforms increasingly depend on software development, cloud infrastructure and scalable digital systems.
DLSU sees industry exposure as part of technology education
For DLSU, the partnership reflects an effort to combine academic foundations with practical skills that students can apply beyond the university.
“DLSU is committed to preparing our students not only with strong academic foundations but also with the practical skills and industry exposure they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving technology landscape,” said Dr. Ethel Ong, dean of the DLSU College of Computer Studies.
Ong said the collaboration with GCash provides students with opportunities to learn directly from industry practices while preparing for careers in fintech and technology.
The approach reflects a broader shift in technology education as universities work more closely with companies to keep academic programs aligned with rapidly changing industry requirements.
For fintech in particular, this connection can be important because the technology behind digital wallets, banking platforms and other financial services requires skills that extend beyond basic software development. Engineers working in the sector must also understand scalability, cloud infrastructure, security, reliability and the operational demands of financial platforms.
GCash aims to strengthen the local fintech talent pipeline
For GCash and its parent company Mynt, the program is also part of a broader effort to develop Filipino technology professionals who can support the country’s digital economy.
Mynt Chief People Officer Robert Gonzales said technology talent is critical to the continued growth of the digital economy and that talent development should begin before students enter the workforce.
“Through the NextGen Tech Builders Program, we are bringing our industry experience into the classroom to help students build practical, relevant skills and create a stronger pipeline of locally trained fintech engineers,” Gonzales said.
The initiative therefore goes beyond recruitment. By participating in curriculum development and providing training resources, GCash is helping shape how future technology professionals are introduced to fintech engineering.
This could become increasingly relevant as the Philippines continues to expand its digital financial ecosystem. Digital banks, e-wallets, payment platforms and fintech companies require a steady supply of developers, engineers, cybersecurity specialists and other technology professionals capable of building and maintaining digital financial infrastructure.
Why fintech training matters for Filipino tech students
The partnership also highlights the growing overlap between technology education and financial services.
Fintech companies are no longer simply adding digital features to traditional financial products. Many operate complex technology platforms that process payments, facilitate credit, manage financial data and connect consumers and businesses to digital financial services.
That environment creates demand for technology professionals who understand both software engineering and the specific requirements of financial services.
By introducing students to Java, Spring Boot, cloud computing and microservices through an industry-supported curriculum, the DLSU-GCash program gives students exposure to tools and development approaches that they may encounter in professional fintech environments.
The capstone component further allows students to move beyond classroom exercises and work on practical applications of what they have learned.
A closer link between universities and the digital economy
The NextGen Tech Builders Program represents a closer connection between higher education and the companies building the Philippines’ digital economy.
For DLSU students, the program offers earlier exposure to fintech engineering and potential career pathways. For GCash, it provides an opportunity to help develop the technology talent needed to support the continued expansion of digital financial services.
The partnership also reflects an increasingly important question for the local fintech industry: how can the Philippines produce enough skilled technology professionals to keep pace with the growth of digital finance?
By bringing industry practices directly into the university curriculum, DLSU and GCash are taking a more direct approach to that challenge, giving students the opportunity to develop fintech-specific skills before they enter the workforce.
As the first fintech engineering elective of its kind at DLSU, the program could also serve as a model for how universities and technology companies can work together to prepare the next generation of Filipino engineers for the demands of the digital economy.
