The technical vocational education initiative of SM Foundation earned the Best Initiatives in Social Responsibility award from The Asset, a Hong Kong magazine.
After accepting its first batch of college scholars in 1993, SM Foundation reinforced its advocacy to provide education to the less privileged public school graduates by introducing its technical vocational scholarships to high school graduates who opt to pursue two-year courses in areas which are in great demand in the market.
The tech/voc scholars have the choice to pursue courses in Food and Beverage, Automobile Mechanic, Fitter Machinist, Electro-Mechanical Technician, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning, Small Arc Welding and Electromechanics.
They enjoy full tuition subsidy in any of SM Foundation’s partner schools, on the job internship, referral to industry partners after graduation, and other fun-filled activities to help them develop holistically.
SM Foundation has been partnering with the Don Bosco Technical Vocational Training Center since 2008.
In 2016, with the increase in the number of its techvoc scholarship slots to 1,000 SM Foundation expanded its partnership to include other training centers.
Aside from the Don Bosco systems, SM Foundation has also partnered with Punlaan School in San Juan, Anihan Technical Institute (Calamba), Datacom Institute of Computer Technology (Makati), Dualtech Training Center (Laguna), General Santos City National Secondary School of Arts and trades, MeralcoFoundation Inc. (Pasig), Monark Foundation Institute (Laguna & Cagayan de Oro) and the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise, School of Knowledge for Industrial Labor Leadership and Service and the Banilad Center for Professional Development in Cebu, to accommodate the scholars who are based in other parts of the country. SM Foundation supports 1,644 tech voc scholars.
It also won an award for Best Initiatives in Diversity and Inclusion for its initiatives on Women and Senior Citizens in Leadership Roles.
SM recognizes the role of women in their families, communities and in nation building and encourages and invests in the development of women’s leadership skills. SM also engages senior citizens in leadership roles in the company to help steers its direction and serve as mentors to its succession planning.
For the ninth year in a row, SM Investments Corporation (SM) received the Platinum Award for Excellence in Environment, Social and Corporate Governance. The SM Group bagged six corporate awards.
