The University of the Visayas has the recognition of being the first university in Cebu City. This educational institution currently has eight campuses and a province-wide system composed of both higher education programs and several lower level laboratory schools.
In 1919, Don Vicente Gullas founded the Visayan Institute in Cebu City. In 1935, the Visayan Institute was relocated to Colon St. but the facilities were destroyed during World War 2. In 1946, Don Vicente Gullas re-opened his school in Argao, Cebu. In 197, it moved back to Colon St., where the main campus is
In 1948, the Visayan Institute was granted university status, making it the first school to become a university in Cebu. It was then renamed as the University of the Visayas. Since then, the university has extended its baccalaureate degrees and post graduate course offerings.
There are two campuses situated in Cebu City, specifically (1) the Main Campus that occupies approximately one city block in Colon St. and bounded by D. Jakosalem and Sanciangko Streets on the other sides, and (2) a laboratory high school, which is located in Pardo. The main campus has six buildings and a gymnasium.
The Gullas Medical Center, which is located in Banilad, Mandaue City, is also part of the UV system. It houses the medical-related services of the university, particularly Vicente Gullas Memorial Hospital, Gullas College of Medicine, UV College of Nursing, Gullas College of Dentistry, Tan Kim Ching Cancer Center, an upcoming Cosmetic Surgery Center, and other health-related courses. Vicente Gullas Memorial Hospital is a tertiary care, 100-bed hospital, which is accredited by PhilHealth.
It also has a campus in Punta Engaño, Lapu-lapu City, which has a port specifically designed for the UV Maritime College’s practical training. Other UV campuses are found in Mandaue City, Minglanilla, Compostela, Dalaguete, and Toledo City.
UV currently offers 24 undergraduate degree programs, a number of which start with Associate degree courses, 7 graduate programs, 1 post graduate Bachelor of Laws, and 4 post graduate programs in various fields.
UV also offers poor but deserving students a Study Now Pay Later plan, which has been in effect from 1965 to 1975. Several scholarship programs are also available for government employees, public school teachers and poor disabled students. It has also established an academic-based public employment office and several international linkages for student exchange training programs and the future employment of UV nursing alumni.
UV is a member of the International Association of Universities, Association of Asian Institutions of Higher Learning, Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities, Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation, Philippine Association of Graduate Education, and the Association of Philippine Colleges of Arts and Sciences. It has accreditations from the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities – Commission on Accreditation and the International Standards Organization.
For further information regarding the University of the Visayas, you can visit their Web site at http://www.uv.edu.ph/ or give them a call at (032) 255-2561. Or you can visit the main campus at Corner D. Jakosalem and Colon St., in Cebu City.
