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Ateneo, UP to adopt August-May academic calendar
(Updated 4:23 p.m.) The Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines system on Thursday announced they are shifting their academic calendars from August to May, aligning their schedule with their overseas partners and ensuring that their graduates will have a global outlook.
However, the University of the Philippines – Diliman remains undecided, and will hold "stakeholder consultations" on February 10.
A statement posted on Ateneo's Facebook page said its Board of Trustees approved the shift in a meeting on February 5, 2014, and that the new schedule will take effect in School Year 2015-2016.
It said the ADMU decided on the shift to align its school calendar with the more than 80 percent of its current university partners overseas, even as it noted that over 70 percent of all universities in the world follow the same academic timetable.
Also, the statement quoted University President Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ as saying: “Ateneo needs to ensure that our graduates develop a global outlook and global competencies so that they can navigate a more complex, interconnected world and contribute towards resolving global concerns.”
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines system also approved shifting the start of the academic calendar to August from June effective academic year 2014 to 2015.
The UP website announced the shift, but added that "UP Diliman has not completed its stakeholder consultations and will hold a forum on 10 February 2014 where experts will discuss historical, cultural, climatic and international context related to the shift in academic calendar."
Under the new academic calendar, UP's first semester will begin in August and end in December, while the second semester will be from January to May.
Ateneo's Villarin said the shift in timetable will also facilitate mobility among students and faculty members and collaborative academic programs and research.
To make ADMU better prepared for the change, it will implement the new school calendar in the School Year 2015-2016. But the shift does not apply to Ateneo Grade School and High School academic schedules.
Villarin said the board decided to to implement the shift next year as there are still “concerns and adjustments to be addressed to ensure a smooth transition.”
“We are dedicating one and a half years to work through these concerns thoroughly and systematically. We are confident that we will be ready by 2015,” he said.
One of the issues being considered, the statement said, is the timing of the licensure exams particularly in law, medicine and electronics engineering.
The university said the decision to shift to new schedule stemmed from an internal study and intensive consultations over the last eight months.
Faculty members, administrators, students, staff members, parents and employers participated in a series of consultation meetings, focus-group discussions and/or survey, it added.
On the other hand, it said the Commission on Higher Education was informed of the process, and that various stakeholder groups supported the initiative.
Other universities
Other Philippine universities have also expressed their intention to change their academic year as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration in 2015.
These include De La Salle University, University of Sto. Tomas, and Far Eastern University.
Universities that are considered autonomous from Commission on Higher Education regulation can adopt the change without CHED's approval.
Adamson University has also announced its plan to start the academic year in August instead of June.
Father Gregorio Bañaga, president of Adamson University, had said his school is almost sure of implementing the change this year, to make it easier for students from overseas institutions to enroll.
The Philippines is the only member of the ASEAN still starting its academic year in June, since Thailand adopted the September-May calendar in 2011.
The National Union of Students of the Philippines earlier voiced opposition to planned moves to push back the start of the academic year to August or September, saying it is impractical and will further commercialize education.
In a statement, NUSP said the move to "internationalize" Philippine education is meant "to serve the political and economic thrusts of globalizing economic mammoths such as the [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] and imperialist countries such as the [US]." — Amita O. Legaspi and Rouchelle Dinglasan with Kimberly Jane Tan/LBG/KBK/HS/RSJ, GMA News
However, the University of the Philippines – Diliman remains undecided, and will hold "stakeholder consultations" on February 10.
A statement posted on Ateneo's Facebook page said its Board of Trustees approved the shift in a meeting on February 5, 2014, and that the new schedule will take effect in School Year 2015-2016.
It said the ADMU decided on the shift to align its school calendar with the more than 80 percent of its current university partners overseas, even as it noted that over 70 percent of all universities in the world follow the same academic timetable.
Also, the statement quoted University President Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ as saying: “Ateneo needs to ensure that our graduates develop a global outlook and global competencies so that they can navigate a more complex, interconnected world and contribute towards resolving global concerns.”
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines system also approved shifting the start of the academic calendar to August from June effective academic year 2014 to 2015.
The UP website announced the shift, but added that "UP Diliman has not completed its stakeholder consultations and will hold a forum on 10 February 2014 where experts will discuss historical, cultural, climatic and international context related to the shift in academic calendar."
Under the new academic calendar, UP's first semester will begin in August and end in December, while the second semester will be from January to May.
Ateneo's Villarin said the shift in timetable will also facilitate mobility among students and faculty members and collaborative academic programs and research.
To make ADMU better prepared for the change, it will implement the new school calendar in the School Year 2015-2016. But the shift does not apply to Ateneo Grade School and High School academic schedules.
Villarin said the board decided to to implement the shift next year as there are still “concerns and adjustments to be addressed to ensure a smooth transition.”
“We are dedicating one and a half years to work through these concerns thoroughly and systematically. We are confident that we will be ready by 2015,” he said.
One of the issues being considered, the statement said, is the timing of the licensure exams particularly in law, medicine and electronics engineering.
The university said the decision to shift to new schedule stemmed from an internal study and intensive consultations over the last eight months.
Faculty members, administrators, students, staff members, parents and employers participated in a series of consultation meetings, focus-group discussions and/or survey, it added.
On the other hand, it said the Commission on Higher Education was informed of the process, and that various stakeholder groups supported the initiative.
Meanwhile, Malacañang said it has no control over the changes since the two schools have their own charters.
Likewise, the Palace said the schools definitely considered all the factors before making their decision, adding that they can revert to the previous calendar if the new one does not work out.
"At isinasaalang-alang nila iyong mga patakaran na magiging mainam at kapaki-pakinabang para sa kanilang mga estudyante," Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
Other universities
Other Philippine universities have also expressed their intention to change their academic year as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration in 2015.
These include De La Salle University, University of Sto. Tomas, and Far Eastern University.
Universities that are considered autonomous from Commission on Higher Education regulation can adopt the change without CHED's approval.
Adamson University has also announced its plan to start the academic year in August instead of June.
Father Gregorio Bañaga, president of Adamson University, had said his school is almost sure of implementing the change this year, to make it easier for students from overseas institutions to enroll.
The Philippines is the only member of the ASEAN still starting its academic year in June, since Thailand adopted the September-May calendar in 2011.
The National Union of Students of the Philippines earlier voiced opposition to planned moves to push back the start of the academic year to August or September, saying it is impractical and will further commercialize education.
In a statement, NUSP said the move to "internationalize" Philippine education is meant "to serve the political and economic thrusts of globalizing economic mammoths such as the [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] and imperialist countries such as the [US]." — Amita O. Legaspi and Rouchelle Dinglasan with Kimberly Jane Tan/LBG/KBK/HS/RSJ, GMA News
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