“After 75 years, we’re still here! We survived!”
These was how Foundation University President Victor Vicente Sinco summed up the 75 years of the University’s existence, while looking back at the scary years of the pandemic, which brought down its enrolment to about 700 students.
“We survived by cutting costs, taking pay cuts, first half salary, then three-fourths salary and in my case, it was zero salary,” he said.
Now, just two years later, Foundation University is back on track, and is growing like the pandemic years didn’t happen. Enrolment has gone up more than six-fold, with the College of Nursing leading all other units in bringing in the students.
In a press conference Friday, University administrators proudly announced their accomplishments and plans.
Nursing Dean Jethri Catalan said enrolment at the College is high because of the demand for nurses abroad. “There is a big demand for nurses until 2030 but we know that this trend will drop once there will be an oversupply of nurses,” he said.
The College of Law has also introduced a program for people who do not wish to become lawyers but want to have a deeper understanding of the law.
Doram Dumalagan, a faculty member at the FU College of Law, said they have over 40 enrollees for their Master of Legal Studies program.
Deans have reported a high employability rate for their graduates.
“I have yet to hear of a graduate of our College who is not employed,” said Jobert Kleine Koerkamp, FU College of Agriculture dean.
He also announced that the University is all set to start next month the government’s multi-million-peso Itik Pinas duck-raising project.
The Department of Science & Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research & Development has allocated P5 million for the first Itik Pinas duck production project in the Province, according to Koerkamp.
He said the project was approved in March but had to go through several processes, such as erecting structures, and preparing the farm and hatchery before the actual breeding, which begins next month.
Itik Pinas is a superior breeder duck native to the Philippines with three hybrids – Itim, Khaki, and Kayumanggi.
He added that Kayumanggi is the most sought-after as they are particularly for making balut (fertilized egg embryo that is boiled or steamed).
Koerkamp said they would receive 1,600 eggs from the Bureau of Animal Industry – National Swine and Poultry Research & Development Center in Tiaong, Quezon, as live fowls are still not allowed entry in Negros Oriental.
He assured that strict bio-security measures are in place to prevent diseases, such as avian influenza, from entering the Province.
He said the eggs would be hatched in a farm owned by the University in Tanjay City, where a portion has been designated for the duck production project.
Under the project, FU’s College of Agriculture will first breed the native ducks from the hatched eggs.
Koerkamp explained that they would segregate the male and female ducks for breeding, and the rest for laying eggs.
“By the end of the first quarter of next year, hopefully, we will have Itik Pinas Kayumanggi that people can buy for their projects,” he added.
The FU will also have a separate IP duck breeding project to further increase breeding stocks, and complement the government-funded project. (Alex Pal and Judy F. Partlow)
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Photo Caption: Foundation University administrators led by President & Chairman of the Board Victor Vicente “Dean” Sinco (5th from left), with President Emeritus Dr. Mira Sinco (4th from left) and Trustee Luis Leandro Sinco (6th from left), hold a press conference Friday to mark the University’s 75th anniversary. (Photo by Alex Pal)
