By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The National University (NU) has expanded its campuses to the Visayas, opening its first location outside Luzon.
The launch of NU Bacolod took place at the Main Atrium of SM City Bacolod last Saturday, featuring the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) seven-time champion NU pep squad and its mascot.
NU Bacolod executive/academic director Ryan Joy Dizon said Bacolod is a strategic step for the school’s long-term expansion plans, noting that the city is more ready in terms of area and location.
Dizon mentioned that the university conducted a market study before proceeding with the expansion. “If there could be some differences among other prospects in the Visayas and Mindanao, it’s very slim,” she said.
She emphasized that NU wanted to ensure there was a high demand for the university in the area. “With some considerations, we see Bacolod as a very viable and promising prospect with all the research and market study we did,” she added.
With NU’s presence in Bacolod, Dizon said they will be able to offer parents and students more options. “Our education is very accessible, and we want to offer and share it with everyone as long as they’re willing because it’s affordable,” she said.
Dizon reported that they have received a significant number of enrollees from Bacolod and even outside the city.
“We are overwhelmed,” she said.
She also noted that all faculty members are from Bacolod, expressing optimism about reaching their target by the first year of operation despite offering a limited number of courses.
NU Bacolod is currently accepting senior high and college students. The initial courses offered are Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology, B.S. in Accountancy, B.S. in Computer Science, and B.S. in Tourism Management.
Before deciding on the courses, the university conducted a market study to address local needs.
“We know that we are very short of accountants here, and some of these courses are existing programs at the Manila campus,” Dizon explained.
She added that NU aims to bring its best practices to Bacolod. “The idea is to duplicate what NU is doing well. We know how to implement it in a way that satisfies our students’ needs,” she said.
Nicholerose Alit is the first enrollee of NU Bacolod, taking up B.S. in Psychology.
The building is an eight-story structure, with parking from the second to fifth floors and the school occupying the sixth to eighth floors.
Enrollment is ongoing, and classes start on August 5, while the inauguration is tentatively scheduled for September.