Some Lasallian Firsts

ASEAN Benchmarking

In an effort to push its standards to the international level, DLSU in 2008 opened its doors to the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) for an assessment of its Chemical Engineering and Economics programs. The Chemistry, Literature, and Psychology programs also underwent the assessment in 2010, and the Applied Corporate Management, Physics, and Software Technology programs in 2011. The AUN-QA gave positive feedback and ratings based on the information provided in the University’s self-assessment report, on-site verification of the documents, and interviews with selected stakeholders including faculty, staff, students, alumni members, and employers.

Comprehensive Program on Food and Health

The University and seven other La Salle schools nationwide in partnership with the Institut Polytechnique La Salle Beauvais, France established the De La Salle Food Institute to provide a comprehensive program on food and health. Established in 2011, the Institute examines food and health in its entire supply chain — from the production of food and end user consumption to logistical requirements and environmental impact.

Pioneer Computer School

The University opened its portal to the information highway when it established the Computer Center in 1971, the first in the local academic sector to do so. In 1980, the Center expanded and became the Planning, Information, and Computer Science Center (PICSC). In 1981, the PICSC monitored the Computer Science Department which offered the first undergraduate degree in Computer Science. Four years later, the Computer Science Department was formally declared as the College of Computer Studies.

WISe Messaging System

To improve access to University-related information, La Salle’s Information Technology Center established in 2001 the DLSU Wireless Information Services (DLSU WISe), another first in the local academic scene. This allows community members to receive announcements, such as final exam schedules, UAAP standings, or class suspensions, via text messaging service.

World Champ Soccer Robots

Engineering faculty and students led the Philippine soccer robot team that captured the gold medal in the Millennium Challenge and the silver medal in the Benchmark Category of the Federation of International Robot-Soccer Association World Cup 2000 held in Central Queensland University, Australia. It was a record first for a Philippine university.

Smart Classroom

DLSU ’s smart classroom is the first ever in the Philippine academe. In 2000, it already had video conferencing capabilities and state-of-the-art equipment for desktop presentations, with audio-visual players, overhead projectors, two-way video camera, and 42 computer units hooked to the Internet.

Physical empathic computing

The Center for Empathic Human-Computer Interactions (CEHCI) of the College of Computer Studies had a demonstration of the Philippines’ first physical empathic computing space in November 2009 on campus. The space is equipped with a sensor network to identify its current occupant, recognize his emotions, and respond in an empathic manner via adjustment of ambient parameters such as temperature, lighting, and background music.

Solar Powered Car

SINAG, the first Philippine solar car, was designed and built by students and faculty of DLSU ’s College of Engineering. Driven by a team of La Salle students, it raced across the Australian sub-continent to a stellar finish at the 20th World Solar Challenge. In pursuit of solar technology research, DLSU also developed two more solar cars, one of which toured across the country in 2010 and another raced in the World Solar Challenge in 2011.

Biomedical Engineering

With the aim of developing a multidisciplinary, collaborative learning environment, DLSU set up in 2003 the groundbreaking Biomedical Engineering program, offered as a specialization under the BS in Manufacturing Engineering and Management course. Biomedical Engineering aims to develop professionals concerned with the application of appropriate technology for the efficient delivery of healthcare services and for the advancement of methods used for diagnosis, therapy, and rehabilitation.

Internet-Connected

The first school to be connected to the Internet, DLSU was recognized in 1996 by PC Computing Magazine as among the world’s universities with the best websites. It was cited together with University of Waterloo (Canada), Harvard University (USA), University of West Indies, University of Tokyo (Japan), University of Limerick (Ireland), University of Cape Town (South Africa), University of Sydney (Australia), University of Hamburg (Germany), University of Zagred (Croatia), and Helsinki University of Technology (Finland).

Computer Science

The College of Computer Studies (CCS) garnered Level 3 accreditation for its BS Computer Science program in 2005. It was at that time the highest program accreditation status ever received by a higher education institution from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities.

Likewise, the CCS Computer Technology Department became the first Cisco Academy Training Center in the Philippines, which meant that the Department would be tasked to implement quality assurance initiatives in more than 140 regional and local academies.

Learner-centered teaching

To improve the way teachers teach and students learn, DLSU adopted the learner-centered teaching, an initiative that promotes student-centered learning. The transformative paradigm seeks to engage students in deeper modes of learning and inquiry, and to enable them to develop their analytic, critical, and creative thinking skills.

Internet-connected Classroom

Every classroom at DLSU provides Internet access and features LCD projectors, thin client computers, and hi-tech speakers. Under the Technology-Enabled Learning Environment (TELE) Project started in Academic Year 2009-2010, DLSU has created a learning environment that supports transformative learning and global connection.