AMA Computer University

AMA Computer University (AMACU) is a university located in Project 8, Quezon City, Philippines. It focuses mainly on Electronic, Information, and Communication Technologies.

History

AMA Computer University (AMACU) was founded by the late Amable M. Aguiluz, Sr. He saw the need of establishing an educational institution while he served as Auditor General during the Macapagal presidency. Soon enough, this dream was realized by his son, Dr. Amable R. Aguiluz.

Aguiluz resolved to educate the computer market based on his experience in computer sales. Looking at computers as the wave of the future, he recognized the very urgent need to educate his fellow Filipinos and make them globally competitive. He noted the pervasive use of information technology in first-world countries like the US. He believed that Asia would soon follow suit and that the Philippines should lead this.

Aguiluz founded the AMA Institute of Computer Studies with first computer school along Shaw Blvd on October 20, 1980. At that time, AMA Institute of Computer Studies offered short-term courses in Electronic Data Processing Fundamentals, Basic Programming, and Technology Career. Only 13 students enrolled at the AMA Institute of Computer Studies during the first semester and Aguiluz had second thoughts about the viability of the project.

Before long, AMA Computer College came into existence in June 1981. It extended its services through a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. With only a handful of students in its first year of administration, the AMACC student population rose dramatically from 600 in 1983 to 2,000 in 1985 in its first official campus in Makati City. Shortly after, it established its main campus in Project 8, Quezon City. Two provincial campuses were then founded in Cebu and Davao.

With the passage of the Philippine Higher Education Act of 1994 , privately controlled educational institutions' academic fees were deregulated. AMA solved the problem of low student population by embarking on an aggressive marketing, advertising and information campaign. With this type of strategy, profit-oriented schools started to mushroom.

The emergence of AMACC led to the birth of AMA Computer Learning Center in 1986 and AMA Telecommunication & Electronic Learning Center in 1996. The former engages in offering short-course programs for professionals and two-year technical/vocational courses for those who wish to acquire employment skills. The latter is the one of the first schools in the Philippines to concentrate on telecommunication, electronics, and related technology.

AMA has adopted a principle of being the first to do things. It was the first school in the country to fully integrate Internet in its curriculum. Internet services were provided to all its campuses. Since 1987, all major AMA colleges have been interconnected through a local area network (LAN), which virtually converted them into one nationwide school system. AMA is also the first and only school in the country to have successfully held a teleconference between its high school students and another high school class in Canada in 1994.

In 1991, Aguiluz was able to gain full accreditation for AMA Computer College in the American league of Colleges and Universities (ALOCU), thus, making AMA the first Filipino and non- American school to be so honored. Moreover, AMACC became an official member of the John F. Kennedy Educational Institute in Japan. AMACC is also accredited to the National Computer Center of the United Kingdom.

AMA Computer College in Quezon City was certified by the Societe de General Survelan International Certification Services Canada, Inc. as a world-class institution in quality and service excellence. The certification was given formally by SG-ICS in March 1999.

This means that AMACC’s quality Management System has been assessed and registered as it fulfills the requirements of ISO 9001. The ISO certification is being maintained. It is also monitored by assessors every six months

AMA was conferred with University Status by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on August 20, 2001. AMA Computer College of Quezon City became AMA Computer University. Other campuses still have the title of “College” and “Institute” and were not allowed to use the title “University” as they have not yet met the requirements needed by the Philippine academic regulatory body. AMACU is the first and largest ICT University in Asia with an annual student population of 150,000 and more than 200 campuses in the Philippines and other parts of the world.