Innovating education for the modern times
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Jose Rizal University is one of the pioneering institutions of higher learning in the land that has produced a President of the Philippines, a justice of the Supreme Court, several members of the Cabinet and Legislature, heads of banks and financial institutions, and leaders of educational institutions, captains of industry, commerce, agriculture and trade. The University's number of graduates has been increasing in view of the high demands for jobs requiring skills and competencies in computer science, teacher-education, and business-related courses, like marketing, management, finance, and economics, both here and abroad.
Dr. Vincent K. Fabella, 40, perhaps, one of the youngest university presidents of the land, is at the helm of Jose Rizal University, orchestrating the dynamic changes within its expanding campus and infrastructure along Shaw, Mandaluyong City. He is solidly equipped with two masteral degrees - MBA and MPA from Columbia University in New York, USA, and a Ph. D. in business administration from the University of the Philippines. He has been infusing a new brand of idealism within the university, responsive to the needs, wants and expectations of the Philippine economy and the skill/competency requirements of globalization. He is into faculty development, curriculum upgrade, research studies, and continuous library improvement, e.g., facility upgrade such as computerization and acquisition of new titles. The University has already launched academic courses in response to the human resource requirements of our globalized economy, such as business, education, nursing, computer engineering, English communication proficiency, marketing, etc.
The University was founded in 1919 by Don Vicente Fabella, the First Filipino Certified Public Accountant, and has since gone a long way in its pursuit for academic excellence. It has a Level III accreditation (from PACUCO-FAAP) for its liberal arts, commerce, and education programs, and is within the TOP government (CHED) list of autonomous and deregulated colleges and universities in the Philippines. In December, 2001, the Commission on Higher Education presented to Jose Rizal University, the prestigious Award of Distinction for “...meritorious achievement in higher education, in the provision of instruction, and in the conduct of research and community extension services", and most especially for “... maintaining a tradition of integrity and an untarnished reputation in the educational service."
Last year, Jose Rizal University inaugurated the Dr. Bienvenido R. Tantoco, Sr. Professorial Chair in Marketing at the university auditorium attended by people from the academe and the business community. CEO of the Rustan Group of Companies, Ambassador Tantoco was likewise conferred a doctoral degree in humanities, honoris causa, by the university; and the professorial chair in marketing is his way of showing his gratitude to his alma mater.
The professorial chair in marketing is intended to promote, among others, excellence in marketing education, faculty development, and research programs that are responsive to the currents of the time, particularly, in the field of retail marketing management. Its first chair- holder is Professor Josiah Go, a prolific author of marketing books, well-sought seminar speaker on marketing management, AGORA-awardee of the Philippine Marketing Association, a TOYM awardee of the Philippines and likewise, a world-TOYM awardee.
Jose Rizal University is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, affirming the singular distinction of having one of the oldest business education programs in the Philippines; which ipso facto, translates to unparalleled experience and competence in curriculum development and business education in this part of the globe.
ACADEMIC INNOVATIONS
Jose Rizal University offers a first-rate, world-class, globally-competitive education (Level III) in Business, Education, and Liberal Arts. But that's not all. The school also offer courses relevant to the human requirements of globalization Information Technology, Nursing, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Call Center Professional Courses, and BCS Marketing. In fact, it offers a complete academic program from elementary to graduate school and law. Its graduate school has level II accreditation, among the few with such distinction in the land.
Moreover, the university prides itself to have complete information technology facilities, unlimited Internet access, air-conditioned classrooms, computer rooms, science laboratory rooms for biology, chemistry, and physics, and nursing laboratory facilities, top-class libraries, with computerized-access, in all divisions - elementary, high school, college, graduate school and law all of which contribute to excellence in the delivery of the three constitutional mandate for higher education institutions, i.e., instruction, research and community extension services.
The Graduate and Law Schools are housed in a 7-storey building beside the ivy-covered Main Building marked by Caedo's prized sculptural piece of Dr. Jose Rizal. The high school division is in another cityblock, likewise connected to the main campus thru another concrete overpass across Don Vicente Fabella Street. But it's not all academics, the sports complex practically occupies practically one cityblock connected to the main campus by a concrete overpass across Martinez Street. Otherwise, the growing Jose Rizal University campus is already a historical educational landmark along Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.
Reasons behind these innovations are myriad --- 1) to pursue strategic alignment with the mission of Jose Rizal Universtiy, i.e., "to develop our students to become useful and responsible citizens through the effective transfer of relevant knowledge and desirable values"; 2) to provide quality education that is affordable, "... because it is a right of every Filipino citizen"; 3) to cope with increased competition, more diversity among constituents, higher expectations from the stakeholders, increasing costs, and rapidly changing technology; and 4) to continuously improve and be globally competitive, especially in so far as providing the human capital requirements of our evolving borderless world economy is concerned; and 5) to serve and anticipate the growing needs and wants of target customers and stakeholders.
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