AMA Computer University

AMA Computer University, also known as AMA University or simply AMA, is a private, nonsectarian, for-profit higher education institution in Quezon City, Philippines. AMA is currently the largest information technology and computer education system in the Philippines. AMA is also known for being the pioneer in offering bachelor's degree programs in computer science, computer engineering, cybersecurity, and blockchain technology in the Philippines.

The institution was founded as AMA Institute for Computer Studies on October 20, 1980 by Dr. Amable R. Aguiluz V. The school was named after the founder's father, Amable Mendoza Aguiluz Sr.

History

AMA Institute of Computer Studies

AMA University and its sister school AMA Computer College (AMACC) were founded by Amable R. Aguiluz V, who named them after the initials of his father's name, Amable Mendoza Aguiluz Sr. Aguiluz saw the demand for fully trained computer professionals in the country. However, no institution in the country offered computer education to professionals at that time. Therefore, Aguiluz founded the AMA Institute of Computer Studies with the first computer school located along Shaw Boulevard on 20 October 1980. Back then, AMA Institute of Computer Studies offered only short-term courses in Electronic Data Processing Fundamentals, Basic Programming, and Technology Career. Three students enrolled at the AMA Institute of Computer Studies during the first semester.

AMA Computer College, branches and sister schools

AMA Computer College came into existence in June 1981. It extended its services through a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. With only a handful of students in its first year of operation, the AMACC student population rose dramatically from 600 in 1983 to 2,000 in 1985 on its first official campus in Makati. Shortly after, it established its main campus in Quezon City. Two provincial campuses were then founded in Cebu and Davao City.

With the passage of the Philippine Republic Act No. 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994, privately controlled educational institutions' academic fees were deregulated. AMA increased tuition fees then solved the problem of low student population by embarking on a marketing, advertising, and information campaign.

The emergence of AMACC led to the birth of AMA Computer Learning Center (ACLC) in 1987 and AMA Telecommunication & Electronic Learning Center in 1996. The former offers short-course programs for professionals and two-year technical/vocational courses for those who wish to acquire employment skills. The latter is one of the first schools in the Philippines to concentrate on telecommunication, electronics, and related technologies.
It was the first school in the country to fully integrate the Internet into its curriculum. Since 1987, all major AMA colleges have been interconnected through a local area network (LAN), which converted them into one nationwide school system.

In 1991, Aguiluz gained accreditation for AMA Computer College in the American League of Colleges and Universities (ALOCU), making AMA the first Filipino and non-American school to do so. AMACC became an official member of the John F. Kennedy Educational Institute in Japan. AMACC is accredited by the National Computing Centre United Kingdom as well.

Elevation to university

AMA Computer College of Quezon City became AMA Computer University or AMA University following the conferment of university status by the Philippine government's Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on 20 August 2001. Other AMA campuses to use the title "university" and only permitted to use the title of "college" or "institute" as these campuses have not met the requirements needed by the Philippine academic regulatory body.

In 2003, AMA Computer University inked a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University's ''iCarnegie'' to use its curriculum and courses through e-learning. Previously, iCarnegie had approached STI for the agreement, but opted to stick with AMACU instead. As stated by iCarnegie President and CEO Allan Fisher, "the academic relationship between STI and iCarnegie went well, the business side of the agreement did not go as planned".

Twelve years after its elevation as university, AMA tapped Hewlett-Packard Philippines for the development and implementation of software testing academic subjects of its Information Technology degree course.

Overseas AMA Computer College campuses

In 2003, AMA Education system brokered a partnership with the government of Bahrain to establish the AMA International University in Manama.

Athletic programs

In 2001, AMA joined the newly created National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU). The AMACU Titans had a rocky start but in 2006, they beat their corporate rivals, the STI Olympians and became the 2006 NAASCU Champions. It participates in the Collegiate Champions League, composed of top ranked varsity teams in the Philippines outside of the UAAP and the NCAA.

Dataline

Dataline, the official student publication of the university, has an office on the 2nd floor of the college building, releasing an issue each term. It is one of the two official student organizations of the university, the other being the Student Council (SC).

Political affiliations

Amable Aguiluz V was Joseph Estrada's political endorser in the 1998 Presidential elections. Aguiluz resigned from the Commission in November 1999 due to a controversial purchase of equipment by the commission from a subsidiary of th
AMA Group of Companies

Aguiluz's father Amable Aguiluz Sr. was Diosdado Macapagal's friend and Aguiluz Sr. served as chairman and auditor-general of the Commission on Audit in the 1960s. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was invited to AMA's sponsored political rallies. In 1995, Arroyo attended a political rally in AMA when she ran for re-election as senator. Arroyo attended all graduation rites for AMA from 2002 to 2005. Arroyo cited AMA for not participating in cause oriented and student activist groups. Arroyo appointed Aguiluz as Presidential Adviser for the Middle East.

Programs

Colleges

*College of Computer Studies
*College of Engineering
*College of Business Administration and Accountancy
*College of Arts and Sciences
*College of Education

Basic education

AMA Computer University also has pre-school, elementary, and high school programs under the brand St. Augustine International School (now AMA Basic Education).

Branches

AMA Computer College has 41 campuses nationwide under the AMA University and Colleges umbrella. Only the main campus of AMA in Project 8 is accredited with a University status; all else are under study for proper tertiary status. Student population mainly determine the longevity of the campuses.

AMA Computer University Town

The AMA Group of Companies is planning a campus named ''University Town.'' Expected to be completed in celebration of its 45th year, the AMA Computer University Town is a 50-hectare property in Ara Vista Village in General Trias, Cavite It draws its inspiration from old universities in the western world that spurred rapid development in the Host Township.

The University Town will serve as another type of multi-use development, a primary institutional complex in a park-like setting. A network of open space and walkable distances from once destination to the other is laid out to encourage users to walk instead of using vehicles.

Sister schools

The AMA Education System, whose head office located in Panay Avenue, Quezon City, has various member schools. Unlike the AMA University in Project 8, Quezon City, whose land is wholly owned, some of the schools are on rented real estate. The schools are overseen and monitored by government departments, such as Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Maritime and Naval Agency (MARINA), for Norwegian Maritime Institute.

Pursuant to TESDA compliance, the schools offers ladderized education as well, a program that allows vocational students to pursue college easily, having their previous vocational course merits credited into their college curriculum.

* AMA Computer College are educational institutions across the Philippines that offer the same programs as AMACU. The campuses in Caloocan, East Rizal, Makati, Las Piñas, Malolos, Biñan, Pasig, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Fairview, Cebu, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Cotabato City, and General Santos are among these.
* AMA International University is a partnership between the government of Bahrain and AMA Education System serving AMA's ICT programs in the Arab Region.
* AMA Computer Learning Center (ACLC College) are educational institutions across the Philippines that has a similar structure as AMA Computer College but only offered short Information Technology-related programs before. These programs range from Certificate (3-month), Diploma (1 year) to Associate (2-years). It uses a semestral (5-month) academic calendar. However, they are now offering 4 year courses as well.
*ABE International Business College are educational institutions across the Philippines that has a similar structure as AMA Computer Learning Center. Offers courses like Business Administration, HRM, Tourism and Information Technology since it is a part of the AMA Education System. Its Main Campus is located in Legarda in Manila.
* St. Augustine School of Nursing are educational institutions across the Philippines that has a similar structure as AMA Computer Learning Center but only offer short Medical-related programs like caregiver course.
* AMA International Institute of Technology (CLOSED) are educational institutions that have a similar structure as AMA Computer Learning Center but only offers short technology-related programs like radio technician course. Formerly '' AMA Telecommunication & Electronic Learning Center'', it is located on EDSA, Cubao, Quezon City.
* Norwegian Maritime Academy are educational institutions across the Philippines that offer the same programs as AMACU. It focuses only in Maritime-related courses like Marine Engineering.
* AMA School of Medicine is an educational institution in the Philippines that offers the same programs as AMACU is under accreditation or recognition by the Commission on Higher Education. It focuses in Medical-related courses like Nursing. The Doctor of Medicine or MD course is offered in the Makati Campus of AMA. This is an intensive 4-year course which has been operational since 2008. ASM has clinical clerkship with the Quirino Memorial Medical Center, a DOH run public hospital and the Pasig City General Hospital, a city government run tertiary hospital for its clinical rotation.
* AMA Basic Education (formerly St. Augustine International School) are educational institutions across the Philippines that offer pre-school, elementary, and high school programs but is housed outside AMACU. The institution also claims utilization of the GEMS program for their Math curriculum.
* Delta Air International Aviation Academy is an educational institution that offer studies in aviation. Its campus is located in the Old MIA Road in Parañaque and flight training area is located in Plaridel, Bulacan.

Controversies

School principal case resolution

On 23 January 2007, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the NLRC regarding the dismissal of a high school principal.

A high school principal was promoted on 13 May 1996 but an incident four days later led to her dismissal. A cashier at the company, carried a brown envelope containing PhP 47,299.34 to the comfort room of the school. While inside, she placed the envelope on top of the (toilet bowl) tank. After she left the room, she realized the envelope was left behind, hence she returned to the comfort room, but the envelope was already gone. The incident was reported to the area director, who told that the only person she recalled entering the comfort room after her was the school principal. Investigation of the school principal was ordered. Thereafter, she was brought to the barangay office and the incident was entered in its blotter. On 20 May 1996, she was suspended.

School officials served the principal several notices to appear during the hearings and to submit her written explanation, but the hearings were always cancelled. On 19 June 1996, AMA dismissed the principal on the ground of loss of trust and confidence. On 21 June 1996, school officials sent her another notice directing her to appear on 27 June 1996 hearing and to submit a written explanation. The hearing was, again, cancelled. On 1 July 1996, AMA finally terminated her employment.

On 14 August 1996, Garay filed a complaint for her dismissal and on 14 September 1998, NLRC Labor Arbiter Eduardo Carpio rendered judgment. He ruled that there was no material and direct evidence to show that the employee took the collections. NLRC ordered AMA to immediately reinstate her to her former or substantially equal position and pay her backwages computed in the amount of P300,000.00 (1 July 1996 to 31 December 1998 = 30 months. P10,000.00 x 30 months = P300,000.00), moral damages of PhP 100,000.00 and exemplary damages of PhP 50,000.00.

Student case resolution

On 10 November 2004 the Regional Trial Court dismissed the case against 48 students and granted the students' motion to discontinue the proceedings after getting assurance from the school administration that they can continue with their studies. The students were ordered dismissed by school management 4 October 2004 for holding a protest rally in front of the school.

The students were dismissed from the school by the area director, school director and the school's disciplinary board after they held a protest rally in front of the school campus without the necessary permit. They said that the dismissal of the students was based on a resolution dated 9 October issued by Student Disciplinary Tribunal, which states that holding of rallies or any related activities without the necessary permit from an authorized school officer is a major offense that merits dismissal as provided for in the student handbook.

The students filed a 13-page civil suit with damages against the school for dismissing them. They also claimed their dismissal was null and void and violates their freedom of expression as enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. They said they held the rally to show support for the preventive suspension of several regular teachers, the implementation of the webcast teaching system and other unresolved issues regarding miscellaneous fees.

The students were accompanied by police authorities in going back to school.

Daniel Padilla PBA D-League issue

Daniel Padilla, a local actor, signed as AMA University's fifth advertisement endorser. AMA then joined as an expansion basketball team to the 2014–2015 season of the PBA Developmental League and Padilla was selected by AMA as its final round draft pick. Many spectators in the draft event at the PBA head office in Libis, Quezon City were surprised with the selection as Padilla was not part of the 153 players who submitted their application for the draft. AMA invoked its right as a school-based team to sign a player who hasn't applied for the draft.

Padilla's professional handler, ABS-CBN's Star Magic denied reports Padilla was allowed to join the league and it was done without their prior knowledge. AMA claimed that Padilla was enrolled by the university as a freshman for the course Information Technology. Padilla responded to news reporters and stated that it was much of his surprise that he was drafted without his prior knowledge and declined to join the basketball league.

Notable alumni

* Mujiv Hataman – Governor of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 2011–2019 (Computer Engineering Batch 1994)
* Chito Jaime – PBA Player - San Miguel Beermen
* Getulio Napeñas – former head of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (Master of Science in Public Administration)
* Rainier Castillo – as freshman before joining Starstruck
* Teddy Corpuz – Rocksteddy's vocalist
* Onel de Guzman – computer programmer and hacker
* Jolina Magdangal – actress
* Ryza Cenon – actress, dancer, and model
* Sharlene San Pedro – actress, model, and video streamer

See also

*Asian Institute of Computer Studies
*STI College
*Informatics Philippines

External links

AMA University and Colleges

AMA Education System

AMA Education System Alumni Association Inc.

AMA Basic Education (formerly St. Augustine International School / AMA Elementary and High School)

AMA Delta Air International Aviation Academy

ACLC College

St. Augustine School of Nursing

ABE International Business College

AMA School of Medicine

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ama Computer University

Educational institutions established in 1980
1980 establishments in the Philippines
Universities and colleges in Quezon City
Schools in Quezon City