UC invests P170M for engineering
THE University of Cebu has invested P170 million for the construction of a new school building that will house all engineering students starting next school year.
Nestled in a 3,000-square-meter property along J. Alcantara St. in Cebu City, the UC College of Engineering will be nine storeys high and can accommodate approximately 4,000 students. The new building, expected to be completed by April 2017, will have at least 60 classrooms and 19 laboratories.
UC president Augusto Go said the transfer of 11 engineering courses was brought about by the rapidly increasing number of students enrolling in UC, especially with the addition of another 13,000 Grade 11 students, and another set expected next school year.
Marine engineering students, however, will remain in their respective campuses in UC Lapu-Lapu Mandaue (UCLM) and UC Marine Education and Training Center (UC METC) in Mambaling, Cebu City.
The new building is solely dedicated for UC’s engineering students, including computer, civil, electrical, and mechanical, will also allow the school to provide better facilities, especially in the areas of research and entrepreneurship.
Go promised to provide students with what they need to advance their education. In return, he hopes UC gets a 100-percent passing rate in the board examinations.
“I challenge our students to continue having topnotchers. We already do, but it would be better if we have 100 percent passing,” Go said.
The university also aims to cultivate a startup culture among its students. Go believes the world’s new generation of billionaires are technology entrepreneurs with businesses like Uber and Facebook.
According to Go, some UC students have already won national startup competitions, but he intends to spread the idea to majority of the university’s student population.
Today, UC is most popular for giving out incentives, including cars, to its board topnotchers. Go believes the school that he built more than 50 years ago is being identified as providing “quality and affordable” education to all.
The university has over 50,000 students to date and has four campuses--UC Main along Sanciangko St. in Cebu City, UC Banilad along Gov. Cuenco Ave., UC METC, and UCLM.