University President
WE ARE AUGUSTINIANS!
Warmest Augustinian greetings to our valued stakeholders, partners, and collaborators of the University of San Agustin-Iloilo of the Philippines. Our educative community welcomes and enjoins all interested parties to actively engage in our core processes of instruction, research, community extension, and internationalization for a purposive advancement of our shared vision and mission, anchored on excellence, unity, and service. This academic year, consistent with the university’s future-thinking direction to its envisioned strategic position, we manifest a revitalized commitment to the continual implementation and strengthening of the essential goals in the sequential signification: Augustinian identity and transformative mission, academic excellence, organizational autonomy, and mobilization of individuals and programs for global engagements.
A distinct Augustinian identity enfleshed in a composite group has a programmatic function to propel mission-taking and service orientation. We systematically nurture through the intensification of Augustinian formation programs, the deepening of values integration, and the magnification of character development. This promotes integral human development that necessarily extends and yields social equity, inclusive progress, and upholds human dignity at the very core of shared undertaking. We advocate Augustinian formation incessantly for virtus et scientia (virtue and science or knowledge) as paramount expressions of our vertical and horizontal relations. This centers on a devotion to study and inquiry, a constant search for truth through communion and reflection, and imparting the fruits of one’s discovery with others. This line of progression directly resonates with Saint Augustine’s concept of equilibrium or life balance that consists of innate giftedness, education, training, and experience. Knowledge, although of great value, assumes ancillary prominence in building the edifice of love, respect, and understanding of entities and realities. Resurgence of renewed interest on Augustinian identity is associated with the election of Pope LEO XIV, the former Prior General of the Augustinian Order. The historic event signals and demands faithful observance of Augustinian spirituality as a manifestation of collective identical characteristics.
Quality education and excellent training, aimed at holistic formation and career progression, are supported with program accreditation, management system certification, institutional recognition, and impact ranking. The Augustinian brand of education is constantly evolving, utilizing the lens of global perspective, for a rhythmic synchronization with world trends and initiatives. Continuing dedication and cooperation scaled up PAASCU and PACUCOA accreditation levels; the university earned dual ISO certifications for QMS and EOMS; as AUN-QA Associate Member, program assessments proceeded accordingly; several feasibility studies are conducted to address the demand for innovative and responsive academic curricula; research capacity, productivity, publication and output application are gaining promising momentum; innovation and technology support activities protect and manage institutional knowledge; and stability of related service learning integration and implementation are clearly demonstrated in instruction and attributes.
The University’s participation in global education is given an extensive feature through linkages, mobility, and exchanges. Upskilling initiatives intend to lead to anticipated productivity and innovation for the common good. The Augustinian educational tradition zeroes in on the ‘pedagogy of the mind and heart’ – an integral learning strategy that accompanies learners ‘how to be’ (being) with the end view ‘to share’ (having) – from self-development to other-oriented inclination. Teaching-learning encounters serve as a training ground for mutual care and reciprocal interaction. Innovative programs invariably contribute to significant communal impact, socio-economic progress and development, organizational culture and people management, reciprocal partnerships and collaborations in various levels, and beyond borders. Certain autonomy is achieved not only on the singular level as well-rounded individuals, but the university also aspires to get the badge of approval and confirmation of higher degree self-regulation and actualization of goals, the vision and mission commitment to formation, and transformation into globalized education.
Community outreach and extension activities, with partner communities, institutions, and agencies, contribute relevant learning experiences adapted and responsive to the actual circumstances. We achieve consistent sustainability through capacity development and skills training, make empowered choices and actions. Our students and personnel develop a conscientious awareness to reach out with compassion to vulnerable sectors and minority groupings. Accompanying individuals and partner communities to realize their best potential and become productive players in the community is anchored on quality instruction, support activities, formation trainings, and relevant community engagements. Social awareness and involvement complement and supplement the learning targets and aspirations. It also supports in grounding one’s humanity and eventually offering the goods developed through in-depth exposures and immersions.
With the growing internationalization of knowledge and the Philippine higher education system, the University of San Agustin acknowledges and commits to the furtherance of engagement in the expansive global arena. Our initiative is shaped through an active network of educational and learning institutions, industry partners, research centers, and other agencies. Our International Relations Office is mandated to serve as the gateway for building connections and relationships with prospective parties. With our students, faculty, and personnel, and with the alumni’s extended participation at the forefront of mobility, our sustained and increasing visibility contributes to educational leadership development and management system, yields institutional productivity and quality assurance processes, and an amplified impact on an expanded magnitude, a consequential result of our constant enhancement of quality and excellence in undertakings. Hence, the university engages in global partnerships for education, research, and mutually beneficial professional and institutional networking, contributing to the development and strengthening of global education systems and innovations.
In the pursuit of truth and knowledge, our shared objectives have already produced combined initiatives reaping favorable gains. Therefore, may I invite everyone to join our institutional campaign corresponding to the One San Agustin enterprise design thinking and living out the collaborative educational mission to new heights. As we optimistically utter, Mas Alto Agustinos! We move forward to translate collective efforts into transformative outcomes by means of interconnectedness to one another being Augustinians having oneness of purpose and direction.
The university community adheres to and commits to this year’s agenda of continual improvement of quality programs and organizational measures, a progressive orientation toward autonomy, and the reinforcement of our global presence and institutional recognition as a proponent of Philippine higher education, beyond and more. We remain steadfast and focused on the identified change agenda of the refreshed strategy map, working tediously toward our desired strategic position as a recognized autonomous PHEI in the ASEAN Region and on a long-term basis, beyond the circumscription.
We are indeed Augustinians in mind and heart, striving toward the highest ideals! May God bless our engagements with impressive and significant contributions to the international education community.
Mabuhay ang University of San Agustin!