ILOILO CITY – West Visayas State University (WVSU) aims to expand its offerings of health-related courses as it endeavors to establish itself as the center of excellence for health professions programs in the Visayas.
Dr. Joselito Villaruz, inaugurated for his second term as university president, mentioned the inclusion of professions such as laboratory science, physical therapy, and occupational therapy in their future plans.
“We are approaching this strategically, addressing one program at a time. Preliminary preparations have been made for the potential inclusion of a laboratory science or medical technology program. However, certain requirements need to be met before we can proceed. Approval from the Commission on Higher Education is essential, and we are working towards that,” he explained in a subsequent interview.
The university also has its sights set on the Accelerated Pathway for Medicine, a condensed program similar to the Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INTARMED) Program at the University of the Philippines Manila.
“As the current chairan of the Commission on Higher Education's technical panel for medicine, I am pleased to note that this program is designed for select universities with outstanding performance records and sufficient resources. It shortens the duration to seven years, inclusive of internship, instead of the conventional nine,” he added.
Presently, the university offers a four-year medicine program, accommodating up to 160 students annually, an increase from the previous 120 due to government support.
WVSU has gained recognition for its outstanding performance in licensure examinations, producing 23 nursing topnotchers and four in medicine.
During his first term, Villaruz facilitated the introduction of chemistry and dentistry programs. The College Law Juris Doctor Program will witness its inaugural graduates this year.
“We anticipate the first batch to take the bar exam, perhaps early next year. Despite starting with around 30 students, less than 20 are expected to graduate on time due to the program's rigorous nature,” he stated.
The university also broke ground for the smart building of the College of Law, a four-story green structure funded by a PHP400 million allocation in the 2024 General Appropriations Act. The building, expected to be completed in 458 days, will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including six theater-type air-conditioned classrooms, two moot courtrooms, a multipurpose room, an arbitration/training room, a library, and a review room, with a key card access system. First Lady Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos attended the groundbreaking ceremony, facilitated with the support of House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Villaruz envisions the program's expansion with the added resources and facilities.(PNA)
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