UV invests P3M for new school of art and design

CEBU, Philippines - Adopting an innovative, dynamic and revolutionary educational curriculum, the University of the Visayas recently opened its three-million worth UV New School of Art and Design (UVNS), the first-of-its-kind in the country.

According to UVNS school director and part-owner Genesis Raña, the University has invested P3 million for the latest technology and equipment, 22 units of industry-standard Apple computers, camera lights and school interior redesigning.

He revealed that with the ongoing extension, the administration is eyeing a bigger UVNS facility to be a stand-alone school solely for arts and design.

The UVNS center houses a Mac computer laboratory and a 140-square meter arts studio which was designed by Raña himself.

Ensuring a dynamic and cool learning environment, the K+12-ready institution offers an educational curriculum that focuses on the current trends in the industry.

Raña added that students are also allowed to visit their part-time mentors on field.

Successful students then get certificates upon the completion of the course.

Unlike the traditional approach of giving grades for performance evaluation, students in UVNS are expected to produce outputs that will then serve as their portfolio when applying for a job. 

Raña further noted that graduates have the option to apply in his company, Empire Creative Group, and other companies owned by the mentors, such as Ninja Branch Strategy, Spectrum and Above the Line Productions.

The school offers one-month, three-month and one-year courses for P15,000, P60,000 and P30,000 per semester, respectively.

Courses include visual design (graphic design), 2D animation, 3D animation, motion graphics and film productions, production design, photography and digital illustration.

With its soft opening last October, UVNS currently has eight students enrolled for their one-month and three-month summer programs.  It could cater to four to 20 students for each course.

Formally opening this June, UVNS is located at the 4th floor, Nursing Building, UV Gullas Medical Center, Gov. M.Cuenco, Banilad, Cebu City. - /JMD (FREEMAN)