FOR THE past two academic years, UST raised nearly P31 million in donations for scholarships, research grants, professorial chairs and special projects, a financial report showed.
The UST Research and Endowment Foundation, Inc. (REFI) through the Office for Grants, Endowments and Partnerships in Higher Education (OGEP) provides financial assistance to faculty and students who wish to engage in research projects.
In the financial report, OGEP Director Fr. Rolando de La Rosa, O.P. said donations to the foundation for the fiscal years 2013 to 2015 amounted to P30,971,577.52. Faculty members, support staff and students benefited from the funds, he said.
REFI had assets of P430,822,439. Expenses for the period reached P8,040,450.
For fiscal year 2013-2014, the biggest donation, P1.7 million, came from alumna Josefina Sevilla-Gardinier. It went to the David and Josefina Gardenier Scholarship Fund, which supports students pursuing degrees in secondary and elementary education.
In the period 2014 to 2015, a donation of P9 million was given to the Manuela F. Evangelista Fund, a fund established by UST alumni to support theology students and catechists at the UST Central Seminary.
Grants and projects
From 2013 to 2015, thesis grants were granted to 22 faculty members, five of whom were finishing their masters’ degrees. The rest were pursuing doctorate degrees.
Travel grants were given to 14 researchers from Arts and Letters, Science, Accountancy, Architecture, Engineering, Music, Pharmacy, Rehabilitation Sciences and the Graduate School.
Four faculty members from Pharmacy received P25,000 each in financial assistance for professional development in the fiscal year 2014 to 2015.
The grants office also spent P1.8 million on institutional development projects. The fund was used for the purchase of electrical, hardware and conservation supplies; payment for the employees; and the installation of advanced gamma scanners for high quality reproduction of images at the Miguel de Benavides Library.
REFI also extended assistance to charitable missions in Baler, Makati, Malabon and Bulacan conducted by Thomasian doctors.
