Philippines Engineering 2014
Marking the milestone of 75 years for USC College of Engineering is an important event especially for all Carolinian engineers. Not only does it indicate the passage of time but it also signifies the maturity and quality of the University in developing and nurturing future engineers.
A salient goal of any university is to generate knowledge for public good. Expectedly, one major contributor to this knowledge generation process is the engineering college of a university where students are nurtured and trained to provide technical and innovative solutions to the everyday problems of society. Thus, an engineer often finds deeper meaning in life when they contribute to the good of society in various ways. The ultimate feat is when the engineer fully becomes the gift for the good of humanity as he or she is purposively designed to be.
Through the years, the USC College of Engineering endured a mixture of challenges, disappointments, and triumphs as it envisions to fulfill its role in developing well-rounded and competent engineers. The deans before me have led the way forward and, often enough, left significant marks and hints on how best to move further along. From my point of view, these ups and downs are welcomed, accepted, cherished, and responded to with equal measures of rigor, strength and humility. The same can be said of the many Carolinian engineers who, after leaving the portals of the University, faced their challenges and explored what they can possibly offer to the world in their quest to fulfill their promise.
Moving forward, the College reboots its systems beginning with the end in mind, continuing the tradition of excellence, nobility in character, and devotion to the community—with special preference to the last, the least, and the lost—so we can bring them all together in appreciating the benefits of economic, technological, and social advancement. We appreciate and thank the USC administrators for providing the ways and means by which we can respond to these tasks.
The College is now more than ever poised to appropriately answer the urgent call for reforms in our educational system, which would positively impact the quality of our engineering graduates and professionals. It is mastering its innate confidence in the preparation for ASEAN regional integration and accreditation with the global standards of the Washington Accord, which governs mutual recognition of engineering qualifications and professional competence. To this end, the College understands the utmost importance of the recognition of its engineering graduates and professionals to be at par with their international counterparts.
Cognizant of the many technological challenges of our local communities brought about by disasters, climate change, environmental issues, population growth, and even economic development, the College continues to grow with its new engineering programs in addition to its graduate (Masters and Ph.D.) programs, which significantly underline “glocalized” (globally- and locally-relevant) research endeavours in the fields of food and health engineering, water engineering, waste engineering, and energy engineering, taking into consideration efficient management of locally available resources. Mindful of the needs of its stakeholders and stressing the impact of extension services, industry linkage and collaboration, College research goals are directed towards developing and harnessing appropriate technologies, which can be incubated into spin-offs and start-ups in order to make them accessible, relevant, cost-effective, and sustainable businesses for society.
Coincidentally, the College also marks the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Technological Center, now known as the Fr. Lawrence Bunzel Building. This hallowed edifice is home to thousands of Carolinian engineers who have spent many poignant and nostalgic years of study and hard work in this conducive environment, well known and beloved for its cooler, greener, and quieter ambience in earlier years. Unfortunately, the College is now outgrowing this home. Its needs for a larger, suitably designed, and more technologically-equipped learning facility is becoming more pronounced with the mandate of fully implementing the outcomes-based education framework where experiential, practice-oriented, and hands-on learning activities for students are necessary, in addition to the more in-depth research and technopreneurial activities of both students and faculty members. In support of its goals and recognizing such needs, the College now embarks on a campaign for a new home in the inner sanctum of Talamban Campus, yearning for a worthy successor to the Bunzel Building.
With all these undertakings, the College hopes to continuously contribute to the attainment of the vision, mission, and goals of the University with your full support and assistance.
Source: Philippines Post
Released October 7, 2014