By: Rey R. Garrido
Naval State University is among the newest and youngest university in the Philippines today. Situated at the heart of the town of Naval, Province of Biliran, NSU has become the focal partner in bringing this island paradise in the national landscape with unprecedented developments. The drastic and revolutionary transformation of this university is attributed to the men and women who devoted their lives in defining NSU to where it is stalwartly standing now.
NSU has been the catalyst for change in the island province and its neighboring towns. It has already served as an indispensable instrument that greatly contributed to the socio-economic growth of Biliran. With the quality of education provided to the Biliranons and the stakeholders, NSU brings fortune of bigger opportunities for employment of its graduates here and abroad, thereby doling out more income and economic benefits that slowly stretch the life of the Biliranons and raise the trade and industry pedigree of the island.
Like in many other State U in the country, NSU has a humble beginning as an emergent university. Having existed over decades, the institution has gone through a series of tough transitions in structure and function. From a secondary school in 1945 with increasing capabilities and dedicated teachers in Biliran, the university has morphed into a comprehensive institution of higher learning with more or less 9,000 students spread across its campuses.
Such a change of status- a big strides in the history of Naval State University after its long period of being a college. Its metamorphosed into a university is a legacy worth keeping, through the concerted efforts of Biliranon, Local leaders and was made all possible during the time of the strong and dedicated leadership of Dr. Edita S. Genson, first university president. History would speak that the institution has been a sleeping giant for a long time before it has achieved its long sought dreams of becoming a university.
It is mandated to provide advanced education, higher technological, professional instruction and training in the fields of arts and sciences, education, agriculture, fishery, forestry, maritime education, information and communications technology, engineering, tourism and other related fields of study. It is also mandated to undertake research and extension services, and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization. The NSU-Main Campus occupies a total land area of 6.7053 hectares where the seat of leadership and management of the University is situated.
With its diversified curriculum programs, the University is now composed of 8 colleges including the extension campuses. Over the time, the committed colleges have already produced competitive and successful graduates and topnotchers in the national board examinations for Teachers, Engineering and Maritime.
NSU through time has gone a long way. Over 47 years of existence being a formerly Naval Institute of Technology now Naval State University, had never failed to add noteworthy achievements to the history page of this infant university.
To name a few, year 2006 was idyllic year for NSU, as Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo awarded NSU for being one of the pioneering institutions to implement Ladderization Education Program (LEP) per EO No. 358. This risky move of NSU at that time was a blessing in disguise. With the advent of curriculum revisions in the Higher education fortunately has put NSU at the top being the model school, because most of the program offerings are suited to the demands of the present time.
Subsequently, His Excellency Benigno “ Noynoy” Aquino III awarded ISO 9004:2009 to NSU. This focuses on how to make a quality management system more efficient and effective. International Standards give state of the art specifications for products, services and good practice, helping to make industry more efficient and effective. Developed through global consensus, they help to break down barriers to international trade.
Another proof of the institution’s ardor to achieve its vision lies in its goal to persistently address the hasher realities of life in every way possible. NSU was identified by CHED-Central Office as pilot public HEI of the Institutional Quality Assurance Monitoring and Evaluation (IQuAME) Obtained institutional passing higher than the national passing rate in Licensure Exams for Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Marine Transportation, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). And in the same year, NSU was also awarded as Top 5 performing school throughout the Philippines in the September 2005 Registered Master Electrician and Registered Electrical Engineering Licensure Examinations.
In truth, the strength of the University is very much deeply rooted in maintaining the tradition of excellence, for NSU- simply never settle for less. Its leaders have forged linkages with other institution both locally and internationally to advance our vision as embedded on it, to produce globally competitive graduates and highly- skilled teaching force.
In historical significance, NSU shares much with the island province of Leyte and Samar: being the premier institution that maintains low tuition fees yet provides a high quality standard in education to all programs, secured by the ISO Certification in Maritime Education being our flagship program by DNV; accredited TESDA Testing and Assessment Center; granted 1st Re-Survey Accredited Programs for Level III Accreditation by AACCUP.
Years after Yolanda, things had drastically changed. By virtue of RA 9718, SEC. 9. The University President. — The University shall be headed by a President, who shall render full-time service. He/She shall be appointed by the Board, subject to the guidelines, qualifications and/or standards set by the Board, upon recommendation of a duly constituted search committee: Provided, That in order to effect a smooth transition to a state university, the incumbent President of the Naval Institute of Technology shall serve as the first University President: Provided, further, That no person shall be appointed as University President if he/she is related by consanguinity or affinity up to the third civil degree to any incumbent local or national official.
Because of this loophole in the provision of the law esp. the last and final phrase, in effect the university has passed through a lot of transitions and adjustments in all aspects of the word. Having been under the baton of four(4) presidents in a span of three years is something for everyone inside the university, Navalian Biliranon, stakeholders to reflect and retrospect. Time to take a stand and rectify what is needed to be changed. It’s high time to put all acts together and start the necessary steps to rebuild the integrity, rekindle the academic glory and establish a free and humane academic environment.
Today, in spite all the vicissitudes brought by the defective provisions of the university charter as construed by authorities, the dynamism and aggressiveness of the University is seen in the wide array of excellent performances and achievements that are products of the long dream of its people. For sustainability, the University looks into the future with high hopes of becoming at par with highly esteemed universities in the country. It should uphold its mandate emphasizing the beauty and relevance of what constitute a learned society.
This conviction to be affirmed steadfastly for NSU to become a world- class university, as it faces a dynamic future. Dr. Victor C. Cañezo our newly appointed OIC- president vows to make it happened in his time. “In unifying our forces, amidst the adversities, we are held accountable to the academic destinies of the people around us”. Teachers, imbued with positive values and sense of purpose, work towards this end, as they are the very persons asked to shape the social and moral fiber of the nation. Truly, NSU is sailing beyond borders for a victorious education!
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