University of Santo Tomas General Santos

University of Santo Tomas General Santos
Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas Heneral Santos (Filipino)
TypePrivate Research Non-profit Higher education institution
EstablishedApril 11, 2024
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic (Dominican)
RectorRichard Ang
Students126 (2024)
Location
General Santos
,
South Cotabato
,
Philippines

6°09′39″N 125°13′32″E / 6.16088°N 125.22552°E / 6.16088; 125.22552
Campus82.2 hectares (822,000 m2)
Patron saintThomas Aquinas
ColorsGold, black, and white[1]
     
MascotBengal Tiger[2]

The University of Santo Tomas General Santos (UST; Filipino: Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas General Santos) is a private, Catholic higher education institution in General Santos, Philippines. The UST General Santos is the first UST campus in Visayas and Mindanao. It is an extension campus of UST Manila.

The Main Building of the campus opened in 2024.

History

In 1997, the UST Manila administration acquired land in General Santos in barangays Ligaya and Katangawan, intending to establish an extension campus in the city. However, the development of the campus was delayed due to land classification issues. The site was classified as agricultural until 2013 when it was reassigned as institutional land.[3][4][5]

Full development of the campus began with the groundbreaking ceremony held in April 2018. Laying of the foundations began in November 2020 and on December 4, 2021, the topping-off ceremony was held on the view deck.[3][6]

UST GenSan was projected to be operational by 2021,[7] but the opening date was pushed to 2023.[8] The campus would be finally inaugurated on April 11, 2024.[9]

UST GenSan welcomed 126 students for the 2024–2025 academic year.[10][11]

Campus

The campus covers an area of 82.2 hectares (822,000 m2) and has facilities that could accommodate 15,000 students. Its main building is seven-storey high and is fronted by an open plaza. It has a 100-person capacity chapel, library, clinic, org rooms, an auditorium, and function halls.[7][12]

Future plan includes the establishment of the Arch of the New Century and the UST-Dr. Ricardo S. Po Sr. Integrated Innovation and Research Laboratories (UST PIIRL).[12]

Academics

School Year founded
Business and Accountancy 2024
Engineering and Information Technology 2024
Health Sciences 2024

The university offers five programs under three pioneering schools, namely the School of Health Sciences, School of Business and Accountancy, and School of Engineering and Information Technology. The five pioneer programs are pharmacy, medical technology, entrepreneurship, accounting information systems, and industrial engineering.[7][12]

See also

References

  1. ^ University of Santo Tomas Visual Identity Manual (PDF). March 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "New Plaza Mayor tiger statue to signal UST's aggressive expansion".
  3. ^ a b "UST to start full development of GenSan campus". MindaNews. January 24, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "UST Statement on UST GenSan". University of Santo Tomas. November 3, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "UST-GenSan Main Building seen completed in 2023, to 'break barriers' in the community". December 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "UST-Mindanao breaks ground in GenSan". The Manila Times. May 13, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Limos, Mario Alvaro (December 7, 2021). "UST's General Santos Campus Will Be Four Times Larger Than Its Manila Campus". Esquire. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "UST-GenSan posibleng mahimong operational sa 2023". Brigada News. BNFM Gensan. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  9. ^ Chavez, Pot (April 11, 2024). "UST opens campus in General Santos City". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  10. ^ Sarao, Zacarian (April 12, 2024). "UST unveils Gen. Santos City campus". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  11. ^ Sarao, Zacarian (September 2, 2024). "UST GenSan opens gates to freshmen in first Thomasian Welcome Walk". Interaksyon. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Zapanta, Logan Kal-El (April 11, 2024). "Largest UST campus opens in GenSan". The Varsitarian. Retrieved April 11, 2024.