July 28, 2015, 1:33p.m. – THE UNIVERSITY has revised its vision
and mission statement, resolving to become the foremost Catholic
university in Asia.
In a memorandum released last July 24, the Office of the Secretary
General said the revisions to the UST vision-mission statement would be
effective at the start of the new academic year.
The revised mission statement reads: “The University, in pursuit of
truth, guided by reason and illuminated by faith, dedicates herself to the
generation, advancement, and transmission of knowledge to form competent and
compassionate professionals, committed to the service of the Church, the
nation, and the global community.”
It retained the three core Thomasian values: competence, compassion, and
commitment.
The line “inspired by the ideals of St. Dominic de Guzman and guided by
the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas” pertaining to the founder of the Order of
Preachers and the patron saint of the University, respectively, was changed to
“in pursuit of truth, guided by wisdom and illuminated by faith.”
Meanwhile, the revised vision statement reads: “Faithful to its
centuries-old tradition of excellence, the University of Santo Tomas envisions
itself as a premier Catholic institution of learning in Asia, committed to the
professional and moral formation of her stakeholders for social
transformation.”
The identity “a globally recognized institution of higher learning” was
changed to the “premier Catholic institution of learning in Asia.” The
word “students” was changed to “stakeholders for social
transformation.”
UST
preserved its motto “Veritas in Caritate” or “truth in charity,” which
is found in Ephesians 4:15.
The memorandum also enumerated nine “directional areas” of the
University’s strategic plan, namely: Thomasian Identity, Leadership and
Governance, Teaching and Learning, Research and Innovation, Community
Development and Advocacy, Student Welfare and Services, Public Presence,
Resource Management, and Internationalization.
Previously, there were 12 “long-term strategic
areas.” Rhenn Anthony S. Taguiam
