Office of the Assistant Vice President for Graduate Education (OAVPGE) in Higher Education (HE Memo#Y3.20)

HE Memo#Y3.20
10 April 2025

Graduate education is a significant pillar of strength in Ateneo de Manila University’s commitment to leadership and national development.  Starting in 1946 at the Padre Faura campus with a mission to support the country’s post-war recovery, the university’s graduate programs have grown significantly. Today, we offer more than 70 master's and doctoral degrees in SOH, GBSEALD, JGSOM, RGLSOSS, and SOSE that attract a diverse group of talented scholars and produce graduates that make meaningful impact in their spheres of influence. Added to this list are the professional degree programs offered in ASMPH, ALS, AGSB, and ASOG that draw passionate individuals who are committed to serving the society at large in their chosen professions, many of whom have made inspiring and profound influence in the health, law, business, and government sectors through their professional practice.

Change Processes

In July 2022, the committee that studied the possibility of a Higher Education cluster presented recommendations for a reimagined Higher Education (HE) structure, based on consultations with administrators, faculty, and stakeholders. Key highlights include the need for responsiveness to market changes, maintaining academic standards, ensuring equal student opportunities, and upholding the university's mission and identity. The committee also emphasized the distinct nature of undergraduate and graduate education, suggesting that governance structures should reflect the unique characteristics and autonomy of different Schools in terms of curriculum and student formation.

Following this directive, a Strategic Planning for Graduate Education was held on 5-6 April 2024. This activity, participated in by representatives from the nine schools, considered input from various internal and external stakeholders and produced a Three-Year Graduate Education Strategic Plan.  A parallel comprehensive organizational review by the Office of the VP for Human Resources took place from October 2023 to February 2025 to assess what used to be the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs (OADGP) in terms of its effectiveness and efficiency and to ensure alignment of mandate and talents with the new strategic direction of graduate education in Higher Education. 

The Office of the Assistant VP for Graduate Education

In light of the recommendations from these various initiatives, I am pleased to announce the formal reorganization of Graduate Education under the leadership of Dr Anne Lan K Candelaria, the Assistant Vice President for Graduate Education (AVPGE).  

The Office of the AVP for Graduate Education (OAVPGE) is mandated to develop and implement policies and initiatives that advance academic excellence, innovation, and relevance in graduate education in the 9 Higher Education Schools:  SOH, GBSEALD, JGSOM, RGLSOSS, SOSE, ASMPH, ALS, AGSB, and ASOG. It also facilitates inter-school collaboration to foster interdisciplinary learning and research, ensure compliance with quality assurance standards and regulatory requirements, and promote a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment that empowers the graduate student community to thrive academically and professionally.

The AVPGE shall provide strategic leadership and oversight for all graduate programs across Higher Education by

1. fostering inter-school synergy in programs and resources
2. setting institution-wide benchmarks for academic quality and continuous improvement
3. leading graduate education policy development and review, and
4. advocating for graduate education at the university and in external engagements.

Office Internal Structure

Two sections in the office assist the AVPGE in the dispensation of these roles:

1. The Graduate Programs and Curriculum (GPC) Section provides strategic support to academic and non-academic goals of graduate education across the nine schools. This is headed by the Graduate Programs and Curriculum Head (GPCH) who is responsible for establishing a cohesive graduate education framework, setting operational goals, monitoring metrics, fostering collaboration, and assisting in policy development and implementation. The GPCH oversees the operations and administration of the three core areas of Graduate Education:
   
   1. Admissions and Financial Aid: facilitates the entry of students into the various graduate education programs; ensures a just and equitable admissions process; provides information on scholarship opportunities.
   2. Curriculum and Academic Standards: provides oversight over the development of academic programs, ensuring alignment with desired standards.  
   3. Graduate Student Life: aims at enhancing the graduate student experience of holistic development within a Catholic, Jesuit and Filipino university.
2. The Policy Development and Quality Assurance (PDQA) Section ensures that graduate education policies, standards, and procedures align with regional and national standards, regulatory requirements, and the university’s strategic goals.  Headed by the Policy Development and Quality Assurance Head (PDQAH), this section develops policies in collaboration with academic units, university offices and external accrediting/regulatory agencies and makes recommendations for policy implementation. It is likewise responsible for the review and evaluation of policies in the three core areas of graduate education. The PDQAH is assisted by the Graduate Education Data Analyst (GEDA) who is responsible for developing information and data management services that support continuous improvement and evidence-informed policy-making processes in graduate education.

In Support of Each of the Nine Schools

Governing the university's graduate education is a multifaceted endeavor given shifting cultural norms and organizational dynamics.

The nine schools, each with its own rich history and graduate program offerings, are united by a common commitment to Jesuit education. It is our hope that the current governance structure for graduate education support the schools in implementing necessary changes effectively while maintaining the university's high standards of quality.

I thank Dr. Anne Candelaria and her team for working through the details of this process of reorganization. We also acknowledge the help of Ms. Jenny See, Director of the University People, Team, and Organization Development Office under the Office of the VP for Human Resources.

I enjoin everyone in our community to lend support to the endeavors of the Office of the Assistant VP for Graduate Education in fostering collaboration among the nine schools in key Jesuit mission areas, through this new structure, while respecting the unique identity of each school.