By Ro-Charmaine M. Pidal

One educational institution South of Manila is taking a gargantuan task of honing students for a world that now requires global citizens.

Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) has been enjoying a reputation as one the country’s premier Science schools. On its 35th foundation, EAC unravels the ongoing developments in the school highlighted with the launch of a new emblem, huge investments on technology, establishment of an International School, its unfailing belief in the power of teaching and learning as a lifetime endeavor.

All these, according to EAC president Jose Paulo E. Campos, are part of preparing students to become citizens of the world. “Be open to the lessons of the world around you… From the insights of the great classroom that is the world, you will discover aspects of yourself that have been hidden from you,” said Dr. Campos.

Transition Period

Dr. Campos, who took his doctoral degree in Education at the University of San Francisco, has since instituted reforms to make EAC at par with colleges and universities in progressive nations.

One of the thrusts of his governance is for every college to develop a self-enabled platform in taking charge of their own department. Eventually, the same approach will be cascaded to the students as professors guide (and not spoon-feed) them in their discovery of knowledge.

Investing in Technology

Alongside the on-going renovations and acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate learning, some P5-million investment was spent to acquire 121 brand new computer sets for an E-learning System Project.

Over the years, EAC has been working on a “one computer, one student” policy to encourage students’ interest in computer-related courses, and facilitate better leaning in this field.

International School Opens

In January 2007, EAC has opened the Aguinaldo International School (AIS). AIS offers an international education program that implements an American-based teaching format. It leans more on application and practice rather than theories, making it an interactive teaching-approach.

Here, students are prepared for the next level of learning as they enter premier universities and colleges in the United States, Europe and even leading educational institutions in the country.

Next school year, Keith Jones, prominent educator from New Zealand, will be joining AIS following his retirement from the International School in Manila.

Power of Teaching and Learning

Perhaps, the true assets of every educational institution are its teachers. EAC would not have been as successful in educating students, who are now practicing their profession here and abroad, if not for its educators.

It is the “unfailing belief of the educators in the power of teaching” that has been fueling the institution for 35 years now. Awakening a student’s passion for learning is a very important part of education.

For instance, the continuous impressive performance of EAC’s College of Dentistry, which recently garnered a 100% passing rate at the 2007 Dentistry Licensure Examination.

The Professional Regulation Commission has cited the recent outstanding licensure exam performance of EAC Dentistry as a big leap from its record last year of a 60 percent passing rate.

In the College of Criminology, on the other hand, EAC graduates would still bag a place at the Criminology Licensure Examination. However, the most impressive of which was in 2005 when Jonathan Jusain placed third in the licensure exams.

While EAC is already honing students to become global citizens for the world, its fundamental principles remain grounded on its three missions: virtue, excellence and service. By these words EAC would have given life to the words of William Butler Yates that “Education is not the filling of a bucket, but a lighting of fire.”

Ro-Charmaine M. Pidal is a former newspaper desk editor, lifestyle writer and columnist. She is currently project manager for coffee-table books, writing and artists’ agent, corporate writer, and an advertising practitioner.