DLSU establishes Gokongwei College of Engineering

The College of Engineering is now the Gokongwei College of Engineering (GCE).

Last Aug. 11, the renaming of the college was officially announced after Chinese-Filipino Tycoon, John Gokongwei, gave a substantial amount worth of donations to the College.

The donation was approved by the Board of Trustees before it sought the approval of the college.

DLSU President and Chancellor Br. Jun Erguiza FSC explains that Gokongwei’s reputable name and donor capability were some of the things they considered before accepting the endowments. Gokongwei is also an alumnus of the University’s graduate school of business.

Substantial support

“The donation would go to scholarships, faculty development, facilities and research,” explains Br. Jun.

One of the main developments being eyed for the GCE is scholarships. “We may not be getting the best students for engineering” explains Br. Jun, “better students do not have the money to enroll at DLSU, so scholarship[s]” must be given.

He claims that the engineering standards have declined and the college “has accepted students just to accommodate [the quota]”.

“In terms of faculty I am really more concerned about the disciplinal aspect of faculty development.” Br. Jun elaborates, “You have to have excellent faculty so that means we would have get good faculty. Pay them. You have to train them, have [provide financial support for] their Ph.Ds.”

For facilities development, another special agreement has been made. “What is being considered as of the moment is for Gokongwei to help us in putting up a structure.” The said structure will house laboratories and classrooms.

Br. Jun opens the possibility for additional donations for the construction of the structure.

The said structure would be built in Canlubang, where there is a piece of land owned by DLSU.

Just like the agreement made with Ramon Del Rosario Jr, for the RVR-COB, a representative from the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation will join the Board of Advisers of the GCE in its decision making process.

In addition, Gokongwei will continue giving his financial support to the GCE after the initial donation of P250 million, especially with the DLSU’s expansion plans in the Canlubang campus.

Along with the college, the College of Computer Studies (CCS) building and the John Gokongwei School of Management in Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) are also named after the business tycoon. Similar to the renamed college, donations and financial support were also given to the two aforementioned structures.