“We have a target of 100,000 students by 2027, and it’s going very well. When we took over in 2008, we only had 2,800 students. Now, we are already at 83,000,” Sy said during an interview with Davao media on April25.
Sy, who also chairs the executive committee of SM Prime Holdings, visited the city for the grand launch of NU Davao - the 15th NU campus in the country and the first in Mindanao.
He emphasized that building a strong educational institution requires time and sustained investment, particularly in instruction and student development.
“Putting up an educational institution is not something we can do overnight. We have to ensure quality instruction and strong sports development, which help instill discipline among students,” he said.
Sy expressed confidence that NU Davao will perform well, citing the university’s proven formula of academic excellence and sports engagement.
He also reiterated SM’s commitment to expanding access to education, continuing the legacy of his late father, Henry Sy, who believed that education is the “great equalizer.”
“We want to reach more deserving Filipinos and bring quality education closer to them, so they no longer have to go to Manila,” Sy said. “This is something we will continue to do to honor my father’s legacy.”
With Davao City’s steady economic growth, Sy revealed plans to further expand NU’s presence in Mindanao, alongside continued mall developments.
For nearly two decades since SM acquired NU, the institution has built a reputation for excellence in both academics and sports, producing topnotchers and champion teams.
NU Philippines president Dr. Renato Carlos H. Ermita said faculty members are required to hold at least a master’s degree, reinforcing the university’s commitment to quality education.
Plans are also underway to expand to other key Mindanao cities, including General Santos and Cagayan de Oro.
Meanwhile, NU Davao executive director Edwin J. Loma said about 99 percent of the campus workforce—around 200 teaching and non-teaching staff are from the Davao Region. Employees from other NU campuses who hail from the region are also encouraged to transfer.
Loma added that the NU Davao facility has passed all government requirements, including structural tests to ensure it can withstand earthquakes.
Admissions coordinator Joshua Noel M. Cagas said the campus is initially targeting 1,500 enrollees for its opening, part of a broader 18,000 enrollment goal. In just two weeks, NU Davao has already reached one-third of its initial target, with about 500 senior high school students enrolled.
Students come primarily from Davao and nearby areas, including South Cotabato, Surigao, and Butuan.
Senior High School principal Kay Rica A. Palma said the campus will initially operate 13 classrooms accommodating 35 students each, with plans to expand to 20 classrooms as enrollment grows.
FAST FACTS: NU Davao
- Location: 5th–7th floors, SM City Davao Expansion Building
- Total area: 28,640 square meters
College Programs:
- BS Accountancy
- BS Architecture
- BS Computer Science (Digital Forensics, Machine Learning)
- BS Management Accounting
- BS Medical Technology
- BS Psychology
- BS Tourism Management
Senior High School Strands:
- Computing Technologies
- Education, Arts, and Social Sciences
- Engineering and Architecture
- Management and Accountancy
- Sciences and Allied Health
Facilities:
- 62 fully air-conditioned classrooms with 65” TVs
- FIBA-sized basketball court
- Physical education room
- Clinic with consultation rooms
- Hospital training equipment (beds, oxygen tanks, dental chair)
- Learning Resource Center (5,231 books)
- Discussion rooms, multimedia and computer rooms
- Laboratories, chapel, and garden Text and photos Judy Quiros