Tag: May 23, 2014

ASIA'S PONTIFICAL University jumped to 141st from 150th in this year's ranking of top Asian universities, after recording its lowest standing in five years in 2013, data from British consultancy Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) showed.

With a score of 42.4, UST trailed behind state-run University of the Philippines, which climbed four notches to 63rd (58.70 points). Meanwhile, Jesuit-led Ateneo de Manila slid to 115th (46.4) from last year's No. 109.

UST bested De La Salle University of the Christian Brothers, which remained in the 151-160 bracket.

A UST professor’s research on composite materials for energy storage has won for her a top government award. 

Christina Binag, a resident researcher at the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, was awarded for her significant contributions in the field of electro-synthesis of materials and conducting polymers, surface characterization, and nanomaterials during the 2013 Ten Outstanding Researchers Award of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)—National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) in their annual General Membership Assembly last March 26.

FROM the Freshmen Walk to ceremonial exit at the Arch of the Centuries and everything that comes in between, nothing compares to the Thomasian experience.

But the real test comes outside of UST, in the real world: Are Thomasian graduates ready?

“You are now empowered to make your dream a reality and [with you] having a good Thomasian education, we believe that you can face the challenges of today’s world,” Father Rector Herminio Dagohoy, OP told this year's 8,236 graduates during the Bacalaureate Mass last March 21.

Graduates said they felt mixed emotions.

IN LINE with the University’s goal to be recognized as a premiere academic institution, UST has collaborated with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and international universities to help strengthen its global presence.

Three pioneering projects for the next academic year were launched during the University’s second annual appreciation dinner hosted by Rev. Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. last March 25 at the UST Museum.

Dagohoy said in his speech that partnerships forged with international institutions paved the way for educational ties, cultural and student exchanges, sharing of best practices, learning opportunities, and genuine friendship.

THE MUSHROOMING of high-rise buildings around UST, a national historical landmark, continues to be a problem, but the University has no power to stop it.

As a heritage site, UST deserves protection and recognition, said Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina. But he admits there is nothing illegal with the market-driven motives of real estate developers.

“We have to take into consideration the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which unfortunately does not specifically set height limitations of buildings surrounding a site declared as a National Cultural Treasure,” Divina said in an e-mail, adding that a special ordinance must regulate building heights and preservation of heritage sites and surrounding areas.

IN A SHOWING of the Thomasian spirit, more than 830 surgeries were conducted in a four-day major surgical mission by UST Medical Missions, Inc. (MMI) in Albay.

The team was composed of 53 doctors, nine nurses, 19 Medicine students, 12 Nursing students, two dentists, and 20 other volunteers.

Headed by Dr. Wiliam Olalia along with Dr. Bernardo Cuevas and Santisimo Rosario Church parish priest Fr. Franklin Beltran, O.P., the team served a total of 2,815 patients from different provinces in the Bicol region last April 21 to 24 at the Aquinas University campus.

MMI collaborated with the Special Commission on Research and Education of Ohio, Aquinas University of Legazpi, Aquinas University Hospital Foundation, Inc. and the local government.

THE CHURCH has a special responsibility to protect the Christian family against many challenges that threaten its existence.

This was the message of Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr. during the last day of the Asian Conference on the Family last May 16 at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila.

In his exhortation, Bacani said the Church must safeguard the union between human beings that the family fosters as the "first social institution established by God to defend human life and love."

"It is by way of the family, that the good of society, of humanity and of the Church herself passes," Bacani said. "Because it is so precious to God, it must also be most highly valued by us."

ACADEMIC Year 2013-2014 produced 713 honor graduates, with the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM) again awarding the most number of medals.

The number of graduates this year decline by 7 percent to 6,734 from last year’s 7,234, statistics from the Registrar showed.

CTHM produced 166 honor graduates out of 421, which meant that 39.4 percent received medals in their solemn investiture, higher than last year’s 28.9 percent.

Sought for comment, CTHM Dean Ma. Cecilia Tio Cuison said the students worked hard for their honors, which would serve as an advantage in their job hunt.

ALMOST half of Accountancy sophomores failed this year’s retention exam, but this was a slightly better performance compared with last year’s result.

Out of 830 second-year students, 380 students were dropped from the program. A total of 482 sophomores took the exam last March 25 but 206 or 42.74 percent failed. This was lower than last year’s 44.33 percent, wherein 211 students failed out of 476 examinees.

Lean Jeff Magsombol, chair of the Pre-Accountancy and Management Accounting department, said 450 incoming third-year students would be enrolled in the Accountancy program, reducing the number of sections to 10 from 18.

WITH LESS than a year before the ASEAN integration in 2015, Thomasians now have the chance to study in ASEAN universities after the newly established Office of International Relations and Programs (OIRP) strengthened its program-based bilateral agreements with foreign universities.

Part of the University’s “internationalization” efforts is participation in the ASEAN International Mobility for Students (AIMS), a program that seeks to bring together students in ASEAN countries.

As the recipients of memoranda of understanding (MOU) and in-bound students from international universities, college deans must examine the strengths of schools abroad, OIRP Director Prof. Lilian Sison, Ph.D., said in an interview.