Cebu can be considered as the educational hub south of Luzon with thousands of students from other provinces coming to the Queen City of the South to get a university education. In fact, a number of universities in Cebu have been considered as Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development by the Commission on Higher Education or CHED for the years 2016 up to 2018. Being designated as a Center of Excellence means a university “demonstrated excellent performance in a respective field in the areas of teaching instruction, research and publication, extension and linkages, and has reached institutional qualifications.” On the other hand, being designated as a Center of Development means a university is a potential center of excellence.
Cebu Capitol – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
A good number of the graduates of these universities have also placed in the top ten in different licensure exams. The following are seven of the best universities in Cebu, in no particular order.
University of San Carlos
The University of San Carlos traces its roots to the Colegio de San Ildefonso, which was established on August 1, 1595 by the Spanish Jesuits. But, the expulsion of the Jesuits resulted to the closure of the school. It was reopened in 1783 under the name Colegio-Seminario de San Carlos. During this time, the school was located along Martires Street. Administration of the school was turned over to the Vincentians in 1867. In 1930, the Colegio de San Carlos was transferred to P. del Rosario Street. The Society of the Divine Word took over the management of the school in 1935. The school was closed a second time during the Second World War after it was occupied by Japanese troops. It was badly damaged after it was hit by bombs from US planes in 1944. It reopened in 1945 and was given university status in 1948.
University of San Carlos – image source: cebudailynews.inquirer.net
The school produced a number of bar and board topnotchers since it became a university. The University of San Carlos was designated as a Center of Excellence and Center of Development by the CHED. For more information, you can check the official website of the University of San Carlos.
University of San Carlos – image source: commons.wikimedia.org
University of Cebu
Prior to getting its university status, the University of Cebu was established on April 1, 1964 as the Cebu College of Commerce with the aim of providing ordinary young men and women good education without paying a costly price. The school wanted to give these individuals the opportunity to improve their quality of life. The people behind this inspirational undertaking were Atty. Augusto Go and his companions. The name of the school was changed into Cebu Central Colleges in 1972 after it received an approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission. In 1992, the institution was given a university status from then- DECS Secretary Dr. Isidro Cariño. On June 1, 1992, Atty. Augusto Go was installed as the first president of the university.
University of Cebu – image source: commons.wikimedia.org
From a modest 239 enrollees when it started accepting students in 1964, the school has grown to a university catering to thousands of students in four different campuses. Similar to the University of San Carlos, the University of Cebu has produced numerous bar and board topnotchers. The University of Cebu was also designated as a Center of Excellence and Center of Development by the CHED. For more information, you can check the official website of the University of Cebu.
University of Cebu – image source: en.wikipedia.org
Cebu Institute of Technology-University
The Cebu Institute of Technology-University was established by Dr. Nicolas G. Escario, Sr. in 1946 with the help from Engr. Fidel C. Dagani, Engr. Jose A. Cavan, and Engr. Amancio A. Alcordo. The four were able to convince the future Board of Trustees of CIT-U of the viability of creating an engineering school in Cebu. Don Simplicio A. Lizares, Sr. was eventually elected as the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the institution while Dr. Nicolas G. Escario, Sr. served as its first president. Don Rodolfo T. Lizares, Sr. was elected as the vice president of this prestigious institution. They worked together in setting up the necessary facilities used by the school.
Cebu Institute of Technology-University – image source: commons.wikimedia.org
From a pioneering population of 512 students in high school and college, the school has grown to provide both technical and non-technical education to thousands of students from the Visayas and Mindanao areas. The school received numerous awards from various regulatory bodies in the country. It received its university status on July 7, 2010 from the Commission on Higher Education. The Cebu Institute of Technology-University is also one of the few schools in the country to be designated as a Center of Excellence by the CHED. For more information, you can check the official website of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University.
Cebu Institute of Technology-University – image source: linkedin.com
Cebu Normal University
The Cebu Normal University was initially established as a branch of the Philippine Normal University in 1902. During this time, it was called the Cebu Normal School. While the school formally separated from the Philippine Normal University in 1915, it remained an adjunct of the Cebu Provincial High School. In June 1925, the institution became independent of the Cebu Provincial High School. The school was renamed as the Cebu Normal College in 1967 before it became a chartered college in 1976 and was renamed as the Cebu State College. On June 27, 1998, the school received its university status and was renamed as the Cebu Normal University.
Cebu Normal University – image source: metrocebu.com.ph
In 2008, CNU established two extension colleges in Balamban and Medellin. The university is the Center of Teacher Development for Region 7. The Cebu Normal University was also designated as a Center of Excellence by the CHED. For more information, you can check the official website of the Cebu Normal University.
Cebu Normal University – image source: everythingcebu.com
University of the Visayas
The late Don Vicente Gullas established the Visayan Institute in 1919, which would later become the present University of the Visayas. In 1935, the institution moved to its present location along the oldest street in the Philippines, Colon Street. After the facilities were razed to the ground in the Second World War, the Visayan Institute temporarily relocated to Argao in 1946. It did not stay long in Argao as the Visayan Institute in Colon Street reopened its doors to the public a year after.
University of the Visayas – image source: rafi.org.ph
The Bureau of Private Schools conferred the University status to the institution in 1948 and was renamed the University of the Visayas. It was the first school in Cebu to receive this notable status. From its initial humble beginnings of 29 high school students, the university now serves thousands of students coming from the different provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao areas with a total of eight campuses around the province. The University of the Visayas was designated as a Center of Excellence and a Center of Development by the CHED. For more information, you can check the official website of the University of the Visayas.
University of the Visayas – image source: cebucity.org
University of San Jose-Recoletos
The University of San Jose-Recoletos was established by the Order of Augustinian Recollects in 1947. During this time, it was called the Colegio de San Jose-Recoletos and classes were held at an old building and a part of a convent. The second year of the institution saw the blessing of its college building located along Leon Kilat Street, which was known as Carmelo Street at that time. On July 25, 1950 the San Nicolas Building of the school in front of Freedom Park was inaugurated.
University of San Jose-Recoletos – image source: en.wikipedia.org
The Basak Campus of the school was completed by June 13, 1981 and a little over a year after the school attained its university status. The Colegio de San Jose-Recoletos was renamed as the University of San Jose-Recoletos. The university currently has three campuses, the main campus along Magallanes and P. Lopez Streets, the Basak campus and the Balamban campus. The institution also earned numerous awards and recognition through the years. The University of San Jose-Recoletos was designated as a Center of Excellence and Center of Development by the CHED. For more information, you can check the official website of the University of San Jose-Recoletos.
University of San Jose-Recoletos – image source: flickr.com
University of the Philippines-Cebu
The University of the Philippines-Cebu is the oldest UP campus located outside of Luzon. The institution was established on May 3, 1918 as a satellite of the University of the Philippines-Diliman. The institution was previously under the administrative control of the University of the Philippines Visayas before it was elevated into an autonomous unit by the UP Board of Regents on September 24, 2010. The move was in preparation for its elevation into a constituent university of the University of the Philippines system.
University of the Philippines-Cebu – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
The University of the Philippines-Cebu has two campuses in Cebu. The first campus is located along Gorordo Avenue, which occupies a fraction of the twelve hectares donated by the Provincial Government of Cebu in 1929, and the second campus is located at the South Road Properties, which houses the UP Professional Schools offering degree programs like Master of Science in Computer Science and Master of Business Administration, among others. The University of the Philippines-Cebu was designated as a Center of Excellence by the CHED. For more information, you can check the official website of the University of the Philippines-Cebu.
University of the Philippines-Cebu – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
These universities currently provide quality education to tens of thousands of students who come from different provinces in the country. All of these universities share the same objective of producing quality graduates who can contribute to the future development of the country.
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