UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. has unveiled plans to develop UST General Santos (GenSan) and UST Santa Rosa in his second four-year term.
As part of his “Vision 2028,” Ang laid down a roadmap aimed at capitalizing on the research and innovation capabilities at UST GenSan and UST Santa Rosa, to complement efforts at the main campus.
Ang said UST would offer programs at the Laguna satellite campus next year. With the innovation hub currently housing a single structure, the UST-Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center, academic programs there will solidify its status as full-fledged campus, he said.
UST Santa Rosa will also house the UST-Dr. William T. Belo Interdisciplinary Research Institute in two years’ time, according to Ang. The building, donated by the Wilcon Depot Inc. founder, is expected to be one of the “trinity of buildings” within the UST Santa Rosa Research Complex.
READ: P300-M William Belo Research Institute set to rise in UST Sta. Rosa
“For now, we will prioritize the full operation of the UST-Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center,” he said. “We will achieve this by recruiting high-level manpower acquiring equipment and instruments and generating funds for research innovation.”
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-TomasINNO Center, a technology business incubator launched in 2019, will also set up a satellite office at the Santa Rosa innovation center in preparation for its opening to entrepreneurs.
“Looking ahead, we aim to develop the UST Research and Innovation Complex in Santa Rosa based on the entrepreneurial model, a project that will significantly improve community life in Calabarzon,” Ang said.
Ang also said the newly opened UST GenSan, the largest UST campus to date, is envisioned to attain university status in four years’ time, or by the end of his term as 97th Rector.
Currently, UST GenSan is a branch campus of the flagship Sampaloc campus, meaning it is still financially linked to UST Manila and is overseen by its top officials, such as Ang, Vice Rector Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P., and Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P.
“We will continue to recruit highly competent faculty and staff to give our learners the best educational experience,” he said. “This is to be balanced by concern for the sustainability of our first branch campus.”
Ang doubled down on UST’s vision of transforming its Mindanao campus into an agricultural technology school, saying it would achieve this goal by 2030.
RELATED: UST GenSan to establish School of Agri-Tech in 5 to 10 years
UST GenSan also plans to open its School of Science in two years, which would join the three existing schools in the School of Health Sciences, School of Business and Accountancy, and School of Engineering and Information Technology.
There are 126 students at UST GenSan in its maiden academic year.
Since Ang took over in 2021, UST has made significant strides in its expansion efforts by building structures across its three campuses. His second term as 97th Rector will extend until 2028. Ella Mae A. Sison
