The Business of Social Good: National University marks 125th year with expansion to 14 campuses

Committed to providing more access to quality education, the National University is celebrating its 125^th anniversary this year with the opening of two new campuses in Cebu and Las Piñas this year. (Photo is artist’s perspective of NU Cebu)

The National University (NU) celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2025 with the opening of two new campuses in Cebu and Las Piñas on SM Properties. This brings the total campus count to 14 this year.  This expansion is planned to raise student enrollment to 85,000, demonstrating NU's commitment to its purpose of providing more Filipinos with accessible and high-quality education. 

The expansion represents the SM Group and NU's shared aim of promoting good change through education and community development.

The additional campuses, which are set to open later this year, are an important component of NU's mission of reaching more students across the country.  This symbolizes the SM Group and NU's commitment to social good, as they collaborate to break down barriers and create opportunities for all Filipinos. 

Henry Sy, Sr. truly felt that education is the key to overcoming the cycle of poverty, and this idea has guided the Sy family's support for NU since 2008.

“We've been expanding with the purpose of providing more access to quality education, which is core to the SM Group's commitment to social good. For us, giving back means ensuring that excellence in education reaches more Filipinos, regardless of their background. The Sy family has always aimed for excellence at NU—whether in academics, infrastructure, or sports. We are focused on building international credibility for NU. This recognition from our international peers is a testament to our commitment to our students and graduates. Our chairman, Dr. Hans Sy, recognizes the value of research and faculty development, which is why we are transforming NU into a research-oriented university. This is in direct alignment with the SM Group's long-standing advocacy for advancing education and social progress. Our students can rise above their circumstances through hard work, dedication, patience, humility, strength, and conviction. With the continued support of the SM Group, together, we embark on this ongoing journey to success, driving social good through education.” ~Dr. Renato Carlos H. Ermita, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NU

In keeping with SM's commitment to inclusion and accessibility, as well as its conviction in every student's potential, NU maintains an open admissions policy and invests in assessments to determine the necessary intervention to enable Senior High School (SHS) graduates become college-ready.  This assures that more Filipino students, regardless of background or status, have the opportunity to pursue higher education.  This is consistent with and supportive of the SM Group's overall goal of promoting possibilities for growth and social mobility through education.

NU's continued pursuit of excellence is evident in its expanding international reputation.  The institution just received a QS 3 Star rating, with 5 Stars in Employability and 4 Stars in Teaching, Social Impact, Facilities, and Good Governance, out of 13 areas evaluated by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).  QS is the world's top provider of services, analytics, and insights for the global higher education sector, and NU's ranking demonstrates the university's dedication to worldwide educational best practices.

Committed to providing more access to quality education, the National University is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year with the opening of two new campuses in Cebu and Las Piñas this year. (Photo is artist’s perspective of NU Las Pinas)

As part of this strategy, NU intends to provide more international mobility for its students, ensuring that their qualifications are widely recognized.  This, combined with SM's support, increases students' possibilities to participate in the global marketplace.

About SM Investments Corporation 

SM Investments Corporation is one of the leading Philippine companies that is invested in market-leading businesses in retail, banking, and property. It also invests in ventures that capture high growth opportunities in the emerging Philippine economy. 

SM’s retail operations are the country’s largest and most diversified, consisting of grocery stores, department stores and specialty retail stores. SM’s property arm, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is the largest integrated property developer in the Philippines with interests in malls, residences, offices, hotels, and convention centers as well as tourism-related property developments. SM’s interests in banking are in BDO Unibank, Inc., the country’s largest bank, and China Banking Corporation, the fourth largest private domestic bank. 

For more information, please visit www.sminvestments.com.

For inquiries, please contact: smic_corpcomm@sminvestments.com.