Proposed academic calendar shifting for colleges and universities are being discussed in preparation for the ASEAN Integration in 2015. With two of the biggest Philippine universities, namely the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University confirming their calendar shifts, and De La Salle University-Manila considering its own, what will be De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s (DLS-CSB) decision on the matter?

“The College is considering [shifting] the calendar,” said Vice Chancellor for Academics, Mr. Robert Tang. “We’re considering opening by late August so that it would also align with other school calendars not just because of the impact of the ASEAN 2015 but also [because we’re] considering [our partnerships] abroad.”

If pushed through, the first term will be from mid-August to December, second term from January to April, and third term from April to July. The shift will possibly start in 2015, according to Mr. Tang.

“As early as late first term [of academic year 2013-2014, the academic council] has already been discussing the proposal of shifting the calendar,” he added.

“We’re considering opening by late August so that it would also align with other school calendars not just because of the impact of the ASEAN 2015 but also [because we’re] considering [our partnerships] abroad.”

The College is considering the change because of the difference of our calendar to the academic calendars of schools abroad. The College has been experiencing problems when it came to bringing students to partner schools for exchange programs. One instance was when DLS-CSB sent students to the Cologne Business School in Germany: “They would usually have to wait for a number of weeks so they could enter [the school],” said Mr. Tang; “similarly when they come back to the College, they would have to wait another number of weeks for the start of the next term.”

Another is the summer study tour program attended by BS-ARCH students in La Salle Barcelona wherein something similar happened, and attending students and faculty members had to miss classes for at least two weeks.

Though the College is more active with North American and European schools, it has recently been open to more partnerships with Southeast Asian schools. For instance, DLS-CSB has just signed a memorandum of agreement with Thailand’s Silpakorn University.

As to what the students would benefit from this calendar shift, they would be able to participate actively and freely in exchange programs. Moving the calendar will also minimize the “class suspension issue” because of the usual bad weather condition from August onwards. Christmas breaks will possibly be longer as well.

Mr. Tang also believes that the proposed shift will not have much of an effect on the administration. It will, however, pose a problem for part-time faculty members if academic calendars of both institutions they are employed in do not sync with each other.