SWU Graduate School gets new dean

"The successful teacher is no longer on a platform, pumping knowledge at high pressure into passive receptacles. He is a senior student anxious to help his juniors."

Along with this adage is the desire to integrate knowledge and innovate taching in graduate education. That is what Dr. Rouel A. Longinos, the newly appointed young and dynamic Dean of the Graduate School of Southwestern University, is looking forward to.

33-year old Rouel is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts major in English. He did his post-graduate studies in Education majoring in Educational Management in the same university.

Long before he started teaching, he served as Sangguniang Kabaatan Chairman and, subsequently, as a Barangay Councilor of Lorega. During his term, he initiated health, sports and non-formal education programs in the community spanning over 8 years.

In 1995, he started teaching at SWU High School Department and then, as a college teacher.

"I have to focus on the academe because I believe I could help our country more if I start with the youth by instilling in them values and attitudes that are applicable in the present age and time. I want my students to focus more on what they can contribute to our country; rather than just express their opinions and unsolicited advice to our politicians. We can do nothing by just talking ang blaming. There's nothing wrong with our country, there is something wrong with us, with our people. I think we have to start developing a thinking and more principled citizenry," Dr. Longinos enthused.

In fact, his leadership, work values and passion to teach were honed since his high school days, being the president of the student body and a cathecist for five years. Likewise, the spirit and love of teaching of high school teacher inspired him a lot.

He is the editor-in-chief of the Southwesterner (the official newsletter of SWU), the director of the Center for Information and Publication and the Secretary of SWU's Executive Committee. Then, as the new dean of the Graduate School.

With 11 years of teaching experience, he considers the deanship a new challenge. Dr. Longinos can be considered as one of the busiest employees in SWU, but he does not do all these to gain credit or benefit himself, but more importantly, to be able to teach the value of perseverance and selflessness.

"I'm really a worker. I enjoy working seven days a week. They appointed me as the new dean, maybe, because they see the potential in me. There is just one value I possess: I want to instill to other people the sense of urgency. I want things done immediately, for a slight delay in fulfilling one's job may mean losing its very essence."

Dr. Longinos he has laid three priorities based on the Vision 2010 of SWU: language proficiency, future proofing and faculty enhancement. Language proficiency involves the ability of students and teachers to efficiently and effectively communicate in English, in both oral and written. He injected advance public speaking in every curriculum to ignite the public speaking skills of the learners.

Likewise, Dr. Longinos has integrated information and communication technology subjects in the curricula of the graduate School for future proofing. Future proofing refers to the readiness of both teachers and students to utilize modern technology.

Most importantly, in attaining quality education, faculty enhancement must be considered. "We need a teacher who teaches; not merely instructs but inspires. Education is like business. We must know our market, their nature, growth and development. We must focus and give the best to our learners. What they learn in the graduate school, they will cascade to their learners," Dr. Longinos pointed out.

Aside from that, they are also planning to establish a university town that connects the three campuses. This is to answer the clamour of the students by putting up dormitories, review centers and an alumni building the will serve many purposes. "We plan to have quality instruction at par with world class education," Dr. Longinos concluded.

SWU Graduate School offers two post-graduate studies and seven graduate studies: Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Public Administration (DPA), Master of Arts in Education (MAEd), Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master in Business Administration (MBA), Master in Business Administration for Executives (MBAEx), Master in Public Administration (MPA) and Master in Public Health (MPH). Meanwhile, they are giving some tuition fee discounts to selected personnel. 75% for SWU employees, 30% for the members of the AFP or PNP, 20% for government employees in rank and file and 60% for government employees occupying supervisory level.

For more information, contact them at 255-5370 or 415-5555 local 314. or visit their site at www.swu.edu.ph