“The rituals performed during three rigorous days [of the Hajj season in the Islamic religion] force pilgrims to cast away their hubris and embrace humility before God and recognition of their roles as active members of the human race.”
http://www.worldinanutshell.com/Islam-Hajj.htm
Now, let me review some interesting (and to some degrees, also amusing) matters about Trinity University of Asia (TUA), a Protestant university in the Philippines located at Cathedral Heights, E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Quezon City.
The home page of the university’s website (http://www.tua.edu.ph/colleges.php) banners the following line:
“A premier Christian University in Asia and the Pacific transforming a community of learners as leaders towards a humane society.”
Then on Wikipedia we find these introductory remarks:
“Trinity University of Asia is the ONLY college or university in the Philippines which has current institutional accreditation granted by a FAAP (Federation of Accrediting Agencies in the Philippines) certified accrediting agency. The Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities Accrediting Association Inc. (ACSCU), granted Trinity University of Asia institutional accreditation "effective August 2009 up to April 2014".
Trinity University of Asia was granted autonomous status by CHED "from 6 October 2009 to 5 October 2012". This is THE HIGHEST FORM OF CERTIFICATION that can be granted to a Higher Education Institution. As at end of October 2009, only 44 (2.5%) out of 1,726 higher educational institutions in the Philippines has been granted autonomous status by CHED.” (Emphasis in capitalized and bold words is mine.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_University_of_Asia
However, though the university’s name has “of Asia” in it, TUA is nowhere to be found among the top 200 universities in Asia (http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/asian-university-rankings/overall). In the most recent ranking list release (2010) only four (4) Philippines universities are found:
1. Ateneo de Manila University (ranked # 58)
2. University of the Philippines (ranked # 78)
3. University of Sto. Tomas (ranked # 101)
4. De La Salle University (ranked # 106)
Going local, among the listed 192 Philippine universities and colleges based on the 2010 University Web Ranking (http://www.4icu.org/ph/), TUA is ranked # 81 very much lower than private provincial universities like Xavier U in Cagayan de Oro (# 14), St. Louis in Baguio (#15), Silliman in Dumaguete (# 20), Ateneo de Naga (# 26), Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) in Silang, Cavite (# 27), Central Philippines University in Iloilo (# 31), University of Baguio (# 34) and 18 more universities in various provinces.
In the same list, Silliman University (ranked #20) is the highest among the Protestant universities. Next in line is the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) which is ranked # 27. The third is Philippine Christian University (PCU) which is # 29. Next is Central Philippines University (CPU) which is # 31. Afterwards, we have the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) which is # 74. Then, comes TUA.
Now, look at the more authoritative list of top 20 universities in the Philippines released by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Professioanl Regulation Commission (PRC). (http://www.prcboardexams.com/2009/08/top-philippine-universities-2009/)
The Top Universities in the Philippines for 2009 ranked according to the study they conducted once every 10 years:
1. University of the Philippines (Diliman Campus / Luzon)
2. University of the Philippines (Los Banos Campus/ Luzon)
3. University of the Philippines (Manila Campus / Luzon)
4. Silliman University (Dumaguete City / Visayas)
5. Ateneo de Davao University (Davao / Mindanao)
6. Ateneo de Manila University (Manila / Luzon)
7. University of Sto. Tomas (Manila /Luzon)
8. Mindanao State University (Iligan Institute of Tech/ Mindanao)
9. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (Manila/Luzon)
10. Saint Louis University (Baguio City / Luzon)
11. University of San Carlos (Cebu City / Visayas)
12. Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro / Mindanao)
13. Mindanao State University (Main / Mindanao)
14. Urios College (Butuan City / Mindanao)
15. Polytechnic University of the Philippines (Manila / Luzon)
16. De La Salle University (Manila / Luzon)
17. Mapua Institute of Technology (Manila / Luzon)
18. Adamson University (Manila / Luzon)
19. Central Mindanao University (Bukidnon/Mindanao)
20. University of Southern Philippines (Davao /Mindanao)
Obviously, we don’t find Trinity University of Asia in the above list.
But, don’t lose heart friends, because TUA has nevertheless an important place under the sun, so to speak. Look at the following from
http://animotivation.blogspot.com/2010/01/top-20-performing-nursing-schools-and.html
List of Top 20 Nursing schools and Universities:
1. Silliman University 96.57
2. Saint Louis University, 95.42
3. Trinity University of Asia 95.06
4. University of Sto. Tomas 95.06
5. Cebu Doctors’ University 91.89
6. Saint Paul University 89.79
7. Central Philippine University 86.72
8. De La Salle University-Health Sciences campus 85.26
9. Saint Mary’s University 84.10
10. San Pedro College 83. 10
11. Manila Doctors College 82.56
12. Centro Escolar University-Manila 81.50
13. Angeles University Foundation 76.37
14. Mariano Marcos University 75.55
15. University of San Agustin 73.25
16. University of Cebu 70.99
17. Metropolitan Hospital College of Nursing 70.54
18. Ateneo de Davao Universit 70.20
19. San Juan De Dios Education Foundation 69. 91
20. University of St. La Salle 67.55.
The one single intent of this article is to impart an unsolicited advice to Trinity University of Asia to be realistically sober in its assessment of its own strengths and weaknesses. As far as strengths are concerned, one obvious proof is in the area of Nursing education. I think the rest are yet on the side of weaknesses despite all the accreditation assets.
So, Trinity University of Asia, you are not yet prestigious, celebrated, prominent or highly esteemed. Be humble enough to reflect on the Socratice dictum: “I know nothing and I know that I know nothing.” Reflecting on this will lead you to better things and will surely open the gates of greatness. But not yet now. . . .
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
There is something to be said about humility in the face of "greatness". True greatness is never self-conscious or self-aggrandizing. Being great is a recognition by others of the singular actions or characteristics that an entity has made or is known for, and which have really affected many people's lives positively, even beyond the time that such great actions occurred or was first recognized. But it has to come from others -- i.e., it's not self-promotion, despite the so-called institutional accreditation (which is just a matter of compliance and 'over-subscription' to certain prescriptions). With all the mad competition going on in the world today, it's understandable that TUA would try to win many more students to its fold -- in an effort to perhaps validate its claims. But the validity of greatness is never found in any self-serving proclamation, even on the basis of supposedly superior pre-qualifications, which are simply a starting point. The CHED certification of autonomy only means a greater responsibility of the institution concerned to ensure the proper education of its charges (the students). TUA can just look at the fruits of its efforts through the years, dispassionately and objectively, to determine whether or not it has anything to feel great about. But then again, it's just a feeling -- and such a feeling is better left unsaid (or risk censure and embarrassment). In this case, humility makes itself apparent in the efforts to really improve and develop -- to push the edge -- and to leave recognition to others. Hubris, "the pride that invites the anger of the gods", will be TUA's downfall if it persists in claiming "greatness" prematurely. You hit the nail squarely on the head on this one, RFP. No doubt they will see this as 'sour-graping' on your part. But the truth always hurts, and if they aren't hurt on this then they are far more delusional than either of us have feared!
Post a Comment