By MERLINA R. HERNANDO
Getting an education–as many people would see it–is like indulging into a complicated enterprise. But with the concept of the educational institution as a caring academic community founded on the philosophy of "Ciencia Y Virtud" (knowledge and virtue), getting an education would mean to cruise blissfully into the realms of lifetime learning. This kind of education, where two of the most important focal points of being educated is embedded, is placed at the pedestal by CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY.
Being an institution of higher learning that commits itself to providing quality education that ensures the total development of its members, helping them to become intellectually, technologically and globally competent, imbued with values and active contributors to their chosen professions, CEU also aims to cultivate the mind, the body and the spirit to serve God, country, and family.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
The university began life as the Centro Escolar de Señoritas, a basic educational institution. It came into existence in June 1907 when its founders, Doña Librada Avelino and Doña Carmen de Luna, saw the need to provide an adequate center for Filipino women, which would anchor them firmly in the tenets of science and virtue and would prepare them for ideal womanhood, intelligent citizenry and democratic leadership. This earned the school the reputation of being a 'finishing school'.
With only a couple of benches, a single blackboard and a few books to start with, the two philanthropists persistently cultivated a dream of establishing a nationalistic center of learning that will become an institution for the instruction and the training of the youth in all branches of the arts and sciences, offering classes in primary and secondary instruction as well as university and collegiate courses. In 1921, first college (the College of Pharmacy) was opened followed by College of Liberal Arts, Education, Dentistry, and Optometry, which was established one after the other.
During the war years, CEU stood its ground to provide quality education despite the impending ruins brought by World War II. All the dedication and the commitment of the founders and the faculty paid off when the school was granted university status by the Philippine government in 1932, making it the first non-sectarian university to offer graduate studies leading to the degrees Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education. Through the years, it has then, steadily grown as an institution under the leadership of known educators who have contributed much to the development of their respective professions that includes Doña Pilar Hidalgo Lim, a social work educator and civic leader; Don Dionisio Tiongco, renowned scholar and educator; and Dr. Lourdes Echauz; a philanthropist and respected educator in the field of Pharmacy. Under the current presidency of Dr. Rosita Navarro, a career educator who has received major recognitions in the field of teaching, Centro Escolar University has gone far beyond its founders' original vision.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Guided by its motto, to be at the forefront of education, CEU offers 36 academic programs under 11 schools and colleges including School of Accountancy, Business, Secretarial and Public Administration, School of Arts and Humanities, College of Dentistry, School of Education, Music and Social Work, Graduate School, School of Home Economics, Nutrition and Tourism, College of Medical Technology, College of Nursing, College of Optometry, School of Pharmacy, and School of Science.
Having faculties comprised of practitioners in their industries, each school and college has specific target plans in designing programs for each specialization. To date, all of the school programs have been accredited Levels 2 and 3 by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP), which certifies the programs that have attained academic excellence in higher education for having reasonable high standard of instruction, highly visible community extension programs and research tradition, strong staff development tradition, highly credible performance of graduates in licensure exams, and the existence of working consortia or linkages with other schools and agencies.
INNOVATIONS
Practically growing up in the university, Dr. Navarro has seen the so-called metamorphosis of the university. In recent years, an Infotech center, a five-storey facility with the latest computer technology equipment and a sports center complete with a gymnasium and an Olympic-size swimming pool was built. A new building for the College of Dentistry fully-equipped with the latest dental equipment and technology was constructed.
Describing herself as the 'link among all the presidents' of the University, Dr. Navarro saw herself in the position to continue the best of the traditions that they have established. One of the most notable improvements is the accreditation of every program in the University started by the previous presidents. “When I took over, I just continued to sustain the momentum of what my predecessors achieved,” she divulges. Wanting to explore more shores of academic excellence, she saw the need of the industry for new courses. “For the past years, we have been very sensitive to the needs of the industry and even without these new programs, we make sure that we answer the needs expressed by them,” she explains.
According to University Registrar Lucia Gonzales, the offering of various academic programs is one the major innovations in the university. Aside from opening a pioneer course in the field of Cosmetic Science both on the undergraduate and graduate levels, she adds, “The three newest addition to the courses we offer are the Hotel and Restaurant Management, Management Engineering, and Computer Engineering which are offered in the academic year 2004-2005.”
Aside from having been granted full autonomy by the Commission on Higher Education, the university prides itself in being the first ISO certified in the Philippines. The ISO 9001:2000 Certification was issued to the University in October 2002 by the Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS).
According to Dr. Conrado Iñigo Jr., assistant vice president of Technology and Development, and Quality Management Representative of CEU, “The program is in support of our university's campaign for the improvement of its system operation through its 5S program – Sort, Systematize, Sweep, Sanitize and Self-Discipline.” Believing that the 5S also reinforces knowledge and virtue, CEU makes sure that as they deliver quality education through accreditation, effective and efficient quality management system can be achieved. “Our dream is to be the first university to become an awardee for the Philippine Quality Awards and we can do this by strengthening further our Quality Management System,” he ends.
Aside from the TQM, another unique feature of CEU is the PAC or Placement Advisory Council in every college and school composed of parents, alumni, and leading members of industry. “The council regularly advises the deans on the latest development in the industry. The result of this constant communication is the translation of the developments in the curriculum enrichment every year,” the president enthuses. The updates from the PAC also serve as a determinant if there is a need to acquire pieces of equipment and new facilities to keep up with the pace of modernism.
Reputed to have the best medical facilities for Dentistry and Optometry, the school has constantly upgraded its science laboratory facilities and modernized its library services with electronic-based research facilities and new research resource acquisitions. “It has been a tradition in the University that we keep abreast in terms of facilities. No matter how expensive these pieces of equipment are, we prioritize and we always find a way to acquire those facilities,” Dr. Navarro explains.
One of the most notable features of the school is the library. Dr. Teresita Hernandez, the Library head, describes the university library as “one of the most organized in the country,” having a large collection of print and online resources and very innovative services. Occupying two buildings, the library is strategically erected to give easy access to students from the university's South and North gates. Aside from the PAC, one of things that make studying in CEU unique is the offering of a Social Arts course where the students' values are developed.
Reliving its founders' mission to create a very 'caring university,' CEU also offers an Inclusion Program for Students with Learning Disabilities where special students are given the chance to prove their worth as individuals. “This is really an interesting program because special students are allowed to mingle with other students in a typical class without special considerations,” explains Dr. Hernandez, who is also the program coordinator.
Aside from the programs that aim to extend a hand to those in need, CEU also commits itself in sharing its blessing to the not-so-blessed individuals by awarding about a thousand scholarships and grants every year. “Ever since I became the president, I have always wanted to increase further the opportunities because we want to be true to our mission of democratized access to higher education and this is in keeping of the founder's mission of educating the middle class,” she ends.
Giving much emphasis in maintaining the tradition of caring, CEU considers its efforts to build the character and the values of the students as the best teacher and one of the most distinctive qualities of Centro. Having the desire to produce graduates that are globally competitive not only in the field of knowledge but also in terms of character building is a true reflection of a caring academic community.
CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES FOR AY 2004 - 05
June 3 - CEU Foundation Day
June 14 - Start of 1st Semester classes
September 11 - Loyalty Day
January 17 - Founders Day
February 3 - CEU Quality Awards Day
