Batangas State University

Batangas State University was originally established as a Manual Training School in 1903 through the supervision of its first American principal, Mr. Scheer. The institution aimed to train youth for beneficial jobs specifically in woodworking. Two years later, it was renamed Batangas Trade School with Mr. Schartz, Zacarias Canent, Isaias, and Nad Pascual Magcamit as its principals, successively. The school was destroyed by fire in 1928 and classes were held temporarily at the old government building near the present Basilica of Immaculate Conception church. The construction of the school building at the site of Batangas State University's Main Campus I began in 1932.[2][27]

After the Liberation, Batangas Trade School resumed activities on 10 September 1945 with Vicente J. Mendoza as its principal. Under the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946, the school was renovated and the first batch of female students were admitted when courses in food trade, garment, and cosmetology were introduced as a response to the growing need of female workforce.[2][27]

Sometime before 1952, the school was renamed Pablo Borbon Memorial Trade School as a tribute to Pablo Borbon who served as the 6th governor of Batangas from 1910 to 1916. Through Republic Act No. 741, the school gained a national trade status on 18 June 1952.[28] Again, it was renamed Pablo Borbon Regional School of Arts and Trades on 22 June 1957 as mandated by Republic Act No. 1957.[29] Two months later, Arsenio Galauran became the school superintendent while the institution started to offer technical courses. The school started offering mechanical and electrical engineering in 1961. Galauran was succeeded by Vicente Mendoza in November 1962. Mendoza was then followed by Rosauro de Leon on 8 June 1963. It was during de Leon's administration that the school began to offer terminal classes in auto mechanics, cosmetology, electronics, dressmaking, machine shop practice, and radio mechanics.[27] On 19 June 1965, Republic Act No. 4582 directed the school to offer degree courses in industrial education and industrial arts.[30]

Main II CEAFA Building

As authorized by Republic Act No. 5270, Pablo Borbon Regional School of Arts and Trades was elevated into a state college and renamed Pablo Borbon Memorial Institute of Technology or PBMIT on 15 June 1968.[31] At the time of its conversion, it was the 23rd state college in the country. Rosauro de Leon was appointed to become PBMIT's first president.[2]

In 1972, the newly established state college started to offer courses in electrical and mechanical engineering courses. Sometime before 1973, a secondary school department that came to be known as the Laboratory School was inaugurated. By 1973, Marcos Ato was its principal when the Laboratory School adopted the Revised Secondary Education Program or RSEP. The following year, the Graduate School was formally opened with Master of Arts in Industrial Education major in Administration and Supervision as its pioneer course. This was followed in 1978 when Master of Management specialized in Business and Public Managements was offered in partnership with former U.P. College of Public Administration. Earlier in 1977, PBMIT launched the Extension Trade Training Program that aimed to train out-of-school youth in electricity, food trades, mechanics, practical automotive, and woodcraft in a span of 200 hours.[2][27]

Main I Gymnasium

Isabelo R. Evangelio succeeded de Leon as college president in 1983. A year after Evangelio's ascendancy to the office, PBMIT acquired a three-hectare land in Batangas City. Eventually, this would become the site of Batangas State University's Main Campus II. Evangelio was succeeded by Mariano O. Albayalde in 1986. In the same year, PBMIT broadened its undergraduate programs in home economics, mathematics, and science. In association with Technological University of the Philippines or TUP, a doctoral degree in Industrial Education Management was offered in 1987. A science class with emphasis in mathematics and science of the Special Science Curriculum was piloted in the Laboratory School from 1987 to 1990 through the supervision of its principal, Mercedes del Rosario.[2][27]

Albayalde's presidency was followed by Ernesto M. De Chavez in 1989. Courses in English language, elementary and secondary education, and computer science were made available the subsequent year. Simultaneously, PBMIT spearheaded the Dual Training System or DTS that was intended for aspiring technicians. DTS was conducted on a trimester basis; classes were held four days a week in industry and two days in school. By 1991, two more courses in development communication and biology were offered. Starting from 1993, the Laboratory School adopted the Technology Based-Curriculum to conform with PBMIT's Science Education Program. Together with Philippine Science High School and Quezon City Science High School, the three were the first secondary schools in the Philippines to adopt the aforementioned curriculum.[2] In 1994, an extension campus was opened in Balayan with welding fabrication and automotive, electrical, and electronics technology as its premier courses.[2][27]

From 1995 to 2000, numerous courses in various disciplines were introduced. Some of these were architecture, business administration, chemical engineering, sanitary engineering, fine arts, information technology, psychology, and public administration. The former College of Liberal Arts, Science, and Computer Studies; School of Accountancy, Business and Economics, Center for Gender, and Poverty Studies; and School of Food Science were established. A separate department for primary students was created that offered Kindergarten I and II in preschool and Grade I in elementary.[2][27]

On 22 March 2001, Pablo Borbon Memorial Institute of Technology was converted into Batangas State University by virtue of Republic Act No. 9045.[1] Ernesto M. De Chavez became the university's first president. The conversion also led to the unification of the Grade School Department and the Laboratory School from which the Integrated School came into existence with Maxima Ramos as its first director.[2] On 17 July 2006, Nora L. Magnaye assumed as the university's second president and the first woman to hold the position. During her presidency, Batangas State University started to establish ties with different universities and colleges in China, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.

On 17 July 2014, Tirso A. Ronquillo was appointed as the third university president. Since 2015, massive infrastructure development was concretized in the university's campuses. . It was during Dr. Ronquillo’s term when the university became a Level IV university, [8] received ISO 9001:2015 certification, [17] and was awarded Three Stars by the QS Stars rating.[23] It was also during this time when its engineering and information technology programs were accredited by the US-based Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology. [19][20][21] The university established the first KIST park in the country, started offering new emerging programs, developed research and development centers, and expanded international partnerships during his term. [25][26][32] In December 2019, the University launched its ten-year strategic plan highlighted by its new vision, mission, and strategic direction until 2029.[33]

The Batangas State University Board of Regents is the highest governing body of the university, as stipulated in Sec. 5 of RA 9045.[12] The Board regularly convenes at least once every quarter. Currently, it is composed of the following:

1. Dr. Lilian De Las Llagas, CHED Commissioner – Chairperson-designate
2. Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, University President – Vice Chairperson
3. Sen. Joel Villanueva, Chair of the Senate Committee on Higher and Technical Education
4. Rep. Mark Go, Chair of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education
5. Dir. Luis Banua, Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority, Regional Office IV-A
6. Dir. Alexander Madrigal, Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology, Regional Office IV-A
7. Dr. Jesse Nelson Llama, President of the Confederation of BatStateU Faculty Associations
8. Mr. Arvin Lloyd Atienza, President of the Confederation of BatStateU  Student Associations
9. Engr. Armando Plata, President of the Confederation of BatStateU Alumni Associations
10. Mr. Faustino Caedo, Private/ Prominent Citizen selected by the Board of Regents
11. Prof. Enrico Dalangin – University Secretary

The university's Executive Committee (ExeCom) serves as the institution's management committee that spearheads strategic planning, internal policy formulation, decision making, and policies implementation based on Board-approved policies and guidelines. It is chaired by the University President. Its members are the Vice Presidents and the Executive Directors of campuses.

The university has an Administrative Council, as stipulated in Section 10 of RA 9045.[12] It consists of the president of the University as the chairman, the vice presidents, deans, directors, and other officials of equal rank as members. The Administrative Council reviews and recommends to the Board policies governing the administration, management and development planning of the University for appropriate action.

The Academic Council, as provided in Section 11 of RA 9045,[12] has the president of the University as chairman and all members of the instructional staff with the rank of not lower than assistant professor as members. This council has the power to review and recommend the curricular offerings and rules of discipline of the University, subject for appropriate action of the Board. It shall fix the requirements for admission of students, as well as for graduation and the conferment of degrees, subject to review and/or approval by the Board.

A premier national university that develops leaders in the global knowledge economy.

A university committed to producing leaders by providing a 21^st century learning environment through innovations in education, multidisciplinary research, and community and industry partnerships in order to nurture the spirit of nationhood, propel the national economy, and engage the world for sustainable development.

The university has six core values: Patriotism, Service, Integrity, Resilience, Excellence, and Faith.

The Red Spartans is the official mascot of the university. It was launched on 23 September 2014 during the 111th Foundation Anniversary of the institution. Designed by John Jeffrey Alcantara, a Fine Arts major of the university, it was officially registered at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines on 15 April 2016 with Certificate of Registration No. 4/2014/00013631.[40]

Leading Innovations, Transforming Lives is the official motto of the university. It was registered at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines on 15 April 2016 with Certificate of Registration No. 4/2014/00013632. This is used in all official publications, newsletters, pamphlets, and brochures published by the University, as well as in official university merchandise sold at the University Shop. It carries with it the University's long standing tradition of service, excellence, and virtue, as specified in its official seal, and is anchored on the goal of maximizing its relevance and transformative impact through innovations in instruction, research, and community service.

In an evening fellowship on 19 November 2016, the university marker named Tower of Wisdom was inaugurated in its Main Campus during the 113th founding anniversary of Batangas State University. The design was conceptualized by Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, and was applied at the Intellectual Property Office as an Industrial Design on 15 November 2016. The structure rests on a 16 meter long and 11.3 meter wide platform, to symbolize the 16th year of the current century and the 113th founding anniversary of the institution. It is 19.03 meters high, symbolic of the year the institution was founded. Through Resolution No. 729, s.2017, the Board of Regents declared the Tower of Wisdom as the official landmark of the university.

The university offers academic programs in engineering, architecture, fine arts, interior design, law, computer science, information technology, industrial technology, teacher education, nursing, dietetics, accountancy, management accounting, business administration, entrepreneurship, public administration, customs administration, tourism management, hospitality management, development communication, criminology, biology, chemistry, mathematics, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries and aquatic sciences.[41]

Recently, the university started offering programs in disaster risk management, the first in the CALABARZON region. [42] It also has an Integrated School in its Main Campus I and a Laboratory School in its Nasugbu campus, both offering basic education, junior high school, and senior high school (STEM strand) under a science and technology-based curriculum. Huawei Technologies Philippines, Inc. also partnered with the university in offering the first Huawei ICT Academy in CALABARZON region, and the seventh academy in the country.[43][44]

Offered in multiple sites for increased student access to quality education, the University's academic programs are anchored on pragmatic, relevant, and socially responsive curricula. These are government recognized and issued certificates of program compliance by the Commission on Higher Education. In addition, its programs are regularly accredited by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines or AACCUP, Inc. Several of its programs have already reached Level IV, the highest level of accreditation by AACCUP. These are the Mechanical Engineering, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Development Communication programs. Other programs have passed Level IV-Phase 1, and will undergo the Phase 2 evaluation before being awarded Level IV accreditation. In 2015, AACCUP awarded Batangas State University as the Top 2 state university with the most number of accredited programs in the country.[45]

The College of Engineering, Architecture and Fine Arts offers the university's flagship degree programs, and is a pioneer in the full implementation of outcomes-based teaching and learning and the integration of Technopreneurship in its curricula.[46] Aside from AACCUP, its programs are also regularly accredited by the Philippine Technological Council or PTC, the umbrella organization of engineering professionals in the Philippines, and the US-based Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

As part of the university's ten-year strategic plan, Batangas State University offers new graduate and undergraduate programs with curricula that reflect 21st century competencies along emerging industries. These include aerospace engineering, geological engineering, geodetic engineering, biomedical engineering, automotive engineering, transportation engineering, metallurgical engineering, naval architecture and marine engineering, public health for disaster response, and ceramics engineering for the undergraduate programs.

The new graduate programs are on urban planning and design, construction management, materials science engineering, transportation engineering, engineering management, engineering education, supply chain management, port management, advanced manufacturing, data science and analytics, artificial intelligence, energy engineering, and earthquake engineering.[47]

In compliance with Republic Act No. 7797, the Board of Regents approved the movement of the university's academic calendar from June–March to August–May starting in 2016.[48] This was also done to align the university's academic calendar with that of the ASEAN and the international community.

The University library hosts a wide collection of references and subscriptions to journals, magazines, and newspapers.[49] It has an e-Library system with library automation software that supports the Destiny Library Manager for a more detailed transaction in online circulation, inventory reporting, computerized logbooks, and utilization reports.[50] The university also has access to IEEE XPlore and Science Direct. The library's website has been redesigned to include new features such as the enhancement of the Online Public Access Catalog or OPAC, the inclusion of e-journals, e-books, and other library resources section, library space reservations feature, and enhanced borrowing and reservation feature. Recently, the University has realigned its budget for subscription to digital content, ensuring that the University Library remains a relevant environment for faculty and students to acquire resources essential for their teaching, learning, and research. Soon, the University's Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (STEAM) Library will be inaugurated in its main campus.[49]

The Red Spartan Face Shield

Each college has program-specific laboratories to support hands-on, simulated learning and application of theories. One of the most recent laboratories established is the fabrication laboratory called the Labspace for Innovation Knowledge-Honing and Application (LIKHA FabLab), which is part of the university's Manufacturing Research Center. Located in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Environment Research or STEER Hub, this laboratory has a high quality research infrastructure for developing models and making prototypes for mass production. It was established in 2018 through a grant from the Department of Trade and Industry of P12 million worth of state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to accommodate university students and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).  It is equipped and ready for digital designs, 3D printing, laser engraving/cutting, CNC wood router, vacuum formatting, large format printing, and CNC metal milling.[51]

In response to the need for personal protective equipment or PPE due to the COVID-19 global pandemic in early 2020, the LIKHA FabLab fabricated the Red Spartan Face Shields. Along with masks, face shields are a basic requirement for health workers as an additional barrier to reduce the risk of viral transmission via airborne droplets. Through the Optimized Vacuum Forming Method for fabricating the face shield, the LIKHA FabLab reduced the time of fabrication to six minutes per face shield as compared to the one hour and 46 minutes just using the 3D printing process. As of June 2020, the LIKHA FabLab has already produced over 2,000 face shields distributed among health care professionals and frontline personnel in Batangas.[52][53]

The University has a virtual learning environment initially utilized by graduate school professors but was eventually used by undergraduate students as well. It partnered with Google for the Google Education program, enabling the faculty and students to have free, unlimited access to G Suite and all its products and features. [54]

The University recently established its Center for Transformative Learning (CenTRaL), which serves as the university’s arm in harnessing innovative technologies in delivering alternative modes of teaching and learning. It has three major components: capacity building and training, ICT technical services, and content development and evaluation. [55]

In March 2020, Quacquarelli Symonds or QS Stars University rating gave Batangas State University a three-star rating. It received five stars for Teaching; four stars for Employability; one star for internationalization; two stars for Academic Development; three stars for Facilities; four stars for Inclusiveness; two stars for Specialist Criteria: Innovation; and four stars for Specialist Criteria: Electronics Engineering.[23]

Batangas State University is also the first state university in the Philippines with engineering and information technology programs accredited by the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology or ABET. The ABET – Engineering Accreditation Commission awarded accreditation to eight engineering programs of the university: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Sanitary Engineering.  In addition, the ABET – Computing Accreditation Commission has accredited the university's Information Technology program.[20]

TÜV Rheinland Philippines, Inc. awarded the university the ISO 9001:2008 certification in December 2017, and the ISO 9001:2015 certification after passing the external surveillance audit in September 2018. The ISO certification covers the design, development, and implementation of higher education services.[17]

In 2016, the Commission on Higher Education selected Batangas State University as a Model Higher Education Institution. This made BatStateU a host university for the Philippine Higher Education Career System - Executive Development Program or EDP, which is part of the University Dynamics Laboratory of CHED in partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines. The University hosted ten candidates of the EDP from 26 November to 1 December 2016.[14]

CHED also recognizes the University's Electronics Engineering program as a national Center of Excellence, while its Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Development Communication, and Teacher Education programs are designated as national Centers of Development. Over 190 of its graduates also topped national licensure and certification examinations administered by the country's Professional Regulations Commission or PRC in various fields as of December 2019. Specifically, Batangas State University has been consistently hailed as top performing school in the Mechanical Engineering licensure examination, making it one of the top mechanical engineering schools in the country.[15][16]

Two of Batangas State University's research projects received the National Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan) award from the Office of Civil Defense – National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council or NDRRMC. The amphibious vehicle known as the Tactical Operative Amphibious Drive or TOAD, which can be used for rescue operations during heavy floods, received the special award in November 2016.[58] On the other hand, the Solar-Powered Isotropic Generator of Acoustic Wave or SIGAW, which is a tsunami early warning device, received Special Recognition during the Gawad Kalasag awards night in December 2018. Gawad Kalasag is an annual awarding ceremony for significant initiatives in the promotion and advancement of DRRM in the country.[59]

During the 2019 Search for Sustainable and Eco-friendly Schools, Batangas State University was awarded as the Regional Champion for CALABARZON. The university also received the Nestle Water Leadership Award and the One Meralco Energy Leadership Award. In ceremonies held on 22 November 2019, the university was adjudged as the National Winner – College Level for the Energy Leadership Award. The biennial Search is organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through the Environment Management Bureau, in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepED), and the Commission on Higher Education, with support from Nestle Philippines, Inc., One Meralco Foundation, Inc., and Smart Communications, Inc.[60]