MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – San Beda is now a university.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officer-in-charge Prospero de Vera III said the commission granted university status to San Beda College-Manila on Tuesday, February 6.

“As a university, San Beda College-Manila is expected to contribute to nation-building by providing highly-specialized education experiences to train experts in the various technical and disciplinal areas, and by emphasizing the development of new knowledge and skills through research and development,” De Vera said in a statement.

He added that San Beda University is expected to produce “experts, knowledge, and technological innovations that can be resources for long-term development processes in the globalized context.”

The Bedan, the official student publication of the San Beda College of Arts and Sciences, was among the first to report on Tuesday that San Beda College is now a university. 

“The Bedan congratulates the institution for its approved university status. Animo, San Beda University!” The Bedan’s tweet read.

BREAKING: The Bedan congratulates the institution for its approved university status. Animo, San Beda University! pic.twitter.com/bY5LUKZhJH

— The Bedan (@TheBedan) February 6, 2018

De Vera later confirmed the news to Rappler. 

“CHED welcomes the entry of San Beda College to the ranks of Philippine universities that will provide quality teaching and research, and produce the critical human resources needed by rapidly developing [countries] like the Philippines,” he said in the statement. 

In 2016, there were reports of San Beda officially applying for university status.

According to De Vera, San Beda is the second private higher education institution that was granted university status based on CHED Memorandum Order 46 series of 2012. The first was Mapua University – formerly Mapua Institute of Technology. 

CHED’s Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education also noted that “university status, being a distinctive honor, is reserved only for truly deserving higher education institutions that have prove their excellence in the areas of instruction, research, and outreach.”

CHED may grant university status to a higher education institution after the school has complied with specific requirements listed in the manual.

The commission may also revoke the university status “for cause and after due process.”

San Beda has produced a number of famous personalities, the most notable of whom is President Rodrigo Duterte himself. Duterte has also appointed many San Bedan graduates to key government positions. – Rappler.com