Asia Pacific College

The 1980’s witnessed an exceptional growth in the information technology (IT) industry. In line with this development, a strong demand for IT professionals resulted in the proliferation of computer schools throughout the country. With so many schools claiming to be the ‘best in IT learning’, concerns over the quality of education came into focus when it was clearly observed that some graduates could not meet the high standards set by business and industry.

In the same breath, Mr. Henry Sy, Sr., Chairman of the SM Group of Companies, realized that putting up a learning institution would be an ideal opportunity for SM to contribute to socio-economic development aside from the generous scholarships already being given by SM foundation to qualified high school graduates. IBM Philippines, the leading IT supplier in the country together with SM (Shoemart), the number one retail giant in the Philippines, explored the possibility of putting up a computer training institution that would produce quality graduates with substantial knowledge ready to meet the demands of industry. The result of these exploratory talks is the inception of Asia Pacific College (APC), the educational collaboration of these two prominent and highly successful privately owned corporations.

Distinguished and highly respectable Filipino educators namely: Dr. Paulino Y. Tan, former Executive

Vice President of De La Salle University (DLSU) and I T Consultant of SM, Inc.; Prof. Leonida Africa, Vice President of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities and former Vice President for Academic Programs at DLSU; and Bro. Andrew Gonzales, former President of DLSU and President of the Manila Bulletin; together with top IBM executives headed by Virgilio Peña, General Manager, Ramon Dimacali and Ana Roqueza, are the founding members of APC.

APC is the educational partnership of SM Foundation and IBM Philippines. SM brought into the venture its experience in business and financial management as well as its competence in facilities development. IBM Philippines, on the other hand, lent its ICT expertise through its extensive courseware base. With their wealth of experience in educational management, the academicians were tasked to manage the school. The aim of APC is simple: to produce highly skilled professionals who can meet the standards of business and industry.

By late 1991, a non-profit, non-stock corporation was formed; by 1993, training programs were offered, attended by employees of various corporations who needed to update their skills and know-how in IT. In 1994, with a Government Recognition (GR) from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), APC’s College of Information Technology accepted the very first batch of college degree students in Computer Information Systems.

APC is the only HEI strong in industry-academe linkages across the curriculum: with industry experience infused in content and industry experts as industry professors, full-time 6-month internship, and project-based learning as the predominant teaching/learning methodology.

APC is continuously upgrading its curriculum with the infusion of industry badges and certification to enhance employability and productivity of its graduates. Some of APC’s milestones are listed below:

·        APC is one of the 65 Autonomous Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) among 2,353 HEIs nationwide. Autonomous HEIs demonstrate exceptional institutional quality and enhancement through internal quality assurance systems and demonstrate excellent program outcomes through a high proportion of accredited programs, the presences of Centers of Excellence and/or Development, and/or international certification (Reference: CHED MO No. 46, series 2012).

·        APC is a Center of Excellence (COE) in IT Education, one of the 18 COEs out of 1,891 HEIs offering IT Education programs nationwide.

·        APC is a Center of Development (COD) in Computer Engineering, one of the 6 CODs out of 337 HEIs offering Computer Engineering nationwide.

·        APC is internationally accredited for the Information Technology program by the PCS Information and Computing Accreditation Board (PICAB), a provisional member of the Seoul Accord.

·        APC is internationally accredited for the Electronics Engineering and Computer Engineering programs by the Philippine Technological Council – Accreditation and Certification Board for Engineering and Technology (P-ACBET), a provisional member of the Washington Accord.