Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Southwestern University offers Alternative Learning Scheme
RESPONSIVE to the needs of working professionals who seek added qualification, Southwestern University provides “convenient, flexible and tailor-fitted” graduate degree programs.
“Our goal is to make graduate education readily accessible to busy professionals. We will come to you. We will deliver graduated education right at your doorsteps,” said Dr. Rouel Longinos, dean of SWU Graduate School of Health Science, Management and Pedagogy.
The Alternative Learning Scheme (ALS) is a SWU Graduate School’s offering for busy professionals who want to attain a graduate degree through “efficient, effective and the most convenient mode.”
Longinos said that students can opt for three modes namely the three-show, four on-line and pay-visit modes.
Three-Show follows three meetings and requirements; orientation, midterm and final requirements.
“They need not to come to school on weekends. They can work according to their schedules as long as they meet the requirements,” Longinos said.
Four-online allows interaction between ALS instructor and students through the Internet. Longinos said that the mode is ideal for students outside Cebu.
Pay-Visit mode is ideal for a minimum group of five students living or working in the same geographic location who want to invite ALS facilitators to “conveniently” come to them instead.
Students should be willing to shoulder all expenses including air or sea fare, travel allowance, accommodation, food expenses and venue for special lecture.
ASL offers non-thesis master’s program, although it is integrated in the curriculum by requiring students to write “scholarly articles worthy of publication,” said Longinos.
In the case of business management and business administration, students go for “business trip” in key commercial places especially in Asia to observe business landscape and write about it.
Thesis-based programs remain an option, Longinos said. SWU graduate degrees follow a trimestral system.
Qualification
“We have to admit it, in today’s workplace, paper qualification is really important. Acquiring graduate degrees is necessary to be competitive,” Longinos said.
Higher qualifications, he said, translates to higher competency level thus demanding higher salary.
“Companies will always look for the right and qualified people to fill positions especially managerial positions,” he said.
Considering these, SWU Longinos said, has continually expanded its graduate program offerings and made it more accessible to busy professionals.
Longinos said that SWU is by far the largest graduate school among private schools in Cebu with approximately 600 students.
Class rooms are air-conditioned, Wi-Fi connected and with LCDs installed. (JSC)
