For 112 years and counting, Central Philippine University has been providing Exemplary Christian Education for Life to Filipino and international students.
The enrollment figures of Central Philippine University are steadily rising again amidst the implementation of the K-12 program that saw no second year and third year college students for this year. The CPU Registrar’s Office reported a rise of 4% compared to that of last year’s enrollment statistics. Last SY 2017-2018, CPU had 11,887 students while this year it rose to 12,367.
Pre-collegiate (kindergarten, elementary, junior high school, and senior high school) statistics show that CPU has 4,348 students for this school year compared to 4,032 last year. The collegiate figures show an increase also from 7,123 students to 7,358. As of the moment, the post-graduate figures show a decrease of statistics from 732 to 661 students. However, this does not include the College of Medicine, which has not started its enrollment yet.
By 2021 when the K-12 and college cycles will be completed, CPU is expecting about 16,000 students to be enrolled.
CPU President Dr. Teodoro C. Robles with Transnational Program Office Director Dr. Rowena Libo-on and Vice President for Finance and Administration Dr. Florence P. Bogacia.
Dr. Rowena Libo-on, Director for Office of Transnational Programs, in an interview stated that one of the reasons for the existence of the university transnational programs is “to initiate and strengthen national and international linkages with individuals and institutions for mutual development here and abroad” as provided in the Administrative Manual.
The initial discussion and the preparation of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Thai Nguyen University of Economics and Business Administration (TUEBA) was spearheaded by the President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, and ably assisted by Atty. Aila Endonila, Legal Counsel; Dr. Rowena Liboon; Dr. Florence P. Bogacia, Vice President for Finance and Administration; and Dr. Jessica Chin, then Director of the International Programs.
The program started with the undergraduate course offering in Master in Business Administration and Master in Public Administration. As the number of students grew, the CPU Board of Trustees through Resolution No. 11, dated December 7, 2013, approved the creation of the Department of Vietnam Programs under the College of Business and Accountancy.
Dr. Liboon with the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Myanmar Institute of Theology.
The strategic plan also included plans to increase enrolment, such as offering distance education program and increasing the number of programs abroad. The Department of Vietnam Programs was changed to Office of Transnational Programs and was approved by the CPU Board of Trustees during a Regular Meeting in its Resolution No. 6 on November 11, 2015.
The new name gave way to more opportunities for academic programs and linkages with foreign universities and institutions. As of now the Office of Transnational Programs is preparing for its academic programs with the Myanmar Institute of Theology, College of Liberal Arts for its joint programs in Master in Business Administration. Another project for Transnational Programs this year is the offering of degree programs online.
The advantage with CPU Transnational Programs according to Dr. Libo-on is that “our partner,” Thai Nguyen University of Economics and Business Administration (TUEBA) has its own International Cooperation Center for Training and Study Abroad (ICCTS). The Center has support staff for each of the program with CPU.
Dr. Robles (5th from Right and Atty Von Lovel Bedona (fourth from Right) with CPU VIP+s are in the front row with Graduates of TNU-TUEBA in Vietnam.
On the other hand, CPU’s best practices on the Transnational Programs with Thai Nguyen University of Economics and Business Administration (TUEBA) include choosing highly qualified faculty, faculty orientation prior to the teaching assignment, full compensation for the local teaching load while teaching CPU programs in TUEBA, mutual support for students in TUEBA—including CPU faculty participation in thesis evaluation and defense.
Only those with master’s degrees can teach in the undergraduate programs while only those with doctoral degrees can teach in the graduate programs. In their Vision, it is stated that “the Office for Transnational Programs endeavor to achieve national and international recognition as a top institution of higher learning in the Philippines and in Asia.”
Strengthening the link among the Communication students of Western Visayas, Mass Communication students from Central Philippine University attended the 3-day media camp held on January 23-25, 2018 at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) Granada Eco Park, Bacolod City.
A year ago, the creation of an alliance among communication students was made possible through the efforts and perseverance of the Central Philippine University MassCom Circle. They brought together communication students from different schools all throughout Western Visayas. Through an event entitled COMvention the (WVACS) Western Visayas Alliance of Communication Students was established.
Centralian, Joanne Berona is the New President of Western Visayas Alliance of Communication Students.
The theme for this year’s event was “Breaking Media Barriers in the New Millennium,” a challenge for future media practitioners to decide whether they will imbue communication with honest emotion and human sentiment or they will become a part of the barriers themselves.
The camp was packed with activities and lectures from day 1 to day 3. There were a total of eleven speakers who discussed topics in relation to their specialization. Senior Reporter of ABS-CBN Bacolod, Yasmin Pascual Dormido, discussed Media Law and Ethics in the Digital Age. According to her “A good name is worth more than anything. If credibility is lost, then it’s time to leave.”
After all the program and activity, an election was held for the next batch of officers of the WVACS. Joanne Berona, a third year Mass Communication student of CPU, was elected President. She will be replacing fellow Centralian Izza Cassandra Abolucion. The Centralians, indeed, have earned the trust and approval of other institutions as they display the Centralian spirit of leadership.
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