SWU to diversify course offerings

More known for its medical courses like medicine and dentistry, Southwestern University Phinma wants to reposition itself as a more diversified educational institution.

The university, which was placed under ownership of Phinma Corp. since 2015, relaunched seven of its existing courses, namely architecture, communication arts, business administration, hospitality, information technology, sports science, and veterinary medicine.

Phinma Education Holdings Inc. president Chito B. Salazar said that while other universities in Cebu are currently more known for these programs, SWU Phinma intends to differentiate itself by providing a “human-centric” approach to these various disciplines.

Teaching methods will be output and industry-driven, he added, which will prepare students for the “jobs of the future.” “It’s not to mean that we are not interested in medicine. (It) continues to be our most important program. But we want SWU Next to show that we are more than just medicine,” Salazar said.

For instance, in the field of information technology, SWU will foster the startup culture, or technology entrepreneurship, among its students.

In the field of hospitality, grad- uates can readily work for companies in Singapore and Europe. Likewise, architecture graduates can readily work with foreign peers and international clients.

“SWU Next” will be officially launched to the public on Dec. 9.

Phinma purchased 17,201 shares equivalent to a 56.83-percent interest in SWU of the Aznar family of Cebu for P1.9 billion.

In August of the same year, Phinma Corp. annnounced its acquisition of an additional 10.62 percent stake in SWU for P367.8 million.