Are you in favor of the proposal for Ateneo to have an August-May academic calendar? Why or why not?

“I voted for it, because that’s one way of going global… We’re now in the age of globalization. We must stay rooted in our culture, but at the same time, we must be open to the world. So I think, especially with Asean, the boundaries are being opened; people can start working in 2016, and that’s why we have a lot of these Europeans coming here… In Europe, people go after the teachers. If you’re [a] philosophy [major] interested in a certain philosophy and it’s being taught by this professor, you strive to go to that [European] university. So I think that’s a very good development. People become aware of what’s happening elsewhere. It gives you a sense of solidarity, a sense of, ‘You’re not just a citizen here, you’re a citizen of the world.’ So whatever happens, you’re just not so closed that you only care about your family in Leyte, in Samar; [you’re also concerned] about what happens in Afghanistan, Syria.”

Leovino Garcia, PhD, Associate Professor, Philosophy Department

 “I am in favor of Ateneo to have an August to May calendar. As the world becomes smaller and enterprises become more global in scope, it is important for educational institutions to stay relevant by aligning themselves with global practices and standards. It will provide students with [the] opportunity to immerse themselves in new experiences they may not have had if the school chose not to align with the rest of the world.”

David Yu Puen, Instructor, Leadership and Strategy Department

“I see no reason why we should not have it. For the most part, it would allow us to keep up with the academic calendars of schools all across the globe, which we had a hard time doing so with our old calendar, as the two did not match. Foreign exchange students to and from our school would have an overall easier time as well. Meteorologically speaking, it’s double-edged; people say it’s better that we’ll have classes later in the year, as storms frequent the months of June and July. One could argue, however, that storms come in the latter months anyhow, and that having classes in the blazing summer heat in the months of April and May would terrible. All in all, I’d still agree with the change, as being more ‘globally-competitive’ would probably outweigh any qualms about the heat or rain.”

Ejay Domingo (I BFA CW)

“No, we are not yet ready for a calendar shift. Although the shift promises opportunities to connect with international schools, our established relationships with local institutions may be compromised. The Ateneo could insist on approving this proposal only if the Commission on Higher Education a standard shift in the academic calendar for all schools in the Philippines.”

Anton Miranda (I AB Dip IR)

“Weighing the pros and cons, I think that Ateneo should push through with the proposed academic calendar shift. There are many opportunities that come with this proposed shift, like a better JTA schedule for those who pursue the program. That being said, some students may have a little difficulty with the shift, since the academic calendar of our country is set up with regard to the tropical weather we have here; this would mean having the last two months of school in April and May where the weather is hot. All in all, though, Ateneo should continue to pursue this.”

Kathrine Chua (II BS MIS)

“I am in favor of the proposal for the academic calendar shift because I think that syncing our calendars with other countries will strengthen partnerships with other universities. It will encourage more inbound as well as outbound student exchanges. It will save the trouble of having fast-track classes and will lessen the fear that some interested students may have regarding the possible delay in their graduation. I believe the academic calendar shift will also prove to be more efficient because the proposed school breaks are allocated systematically.”

           Katharine Nerva (IV BS Psy)

“I have neither strong reasons to oppose the measure nor strong reasons to favor it. I’ve read the proposal primer posted online and found that it makes sense, [and it is in line with] the university’s goals. There may be difficulties in the adjustment, but to quote the working group’s preliminary findings, ‘Those consulted express the view that the concerns [raised] were not insurmountable barriers.’”

Miko Galvez, Lecturer, Theology Department

“I am not in favor [of the proposed academic calendar shift]. Do not fix something that isn’t broken. Changing the academic calendar would just make things a bit confusing, and I think it would take us a long time before we can properly adjust.”

Joseph Atayde (I AB EC-H)