Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) has once again been granted Autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) under Memorandum Order No. 7, Series of 2024. This recognition, given to only 77 schools out of nearly 2,000 higher education institutions in the Philippines, acknowledges SISC’s “long tradition of integrity and untarnished reputation,” “commitment to excellence,” and “excellent program outcomes.” SISC first achieved Autonomous status in 2019, making it the youngest college in the country to receive this prestigious distinction.

Dr. Astrid De Leon, College Director at Southville, expressed immense pride in this accomplishment. “Retaining autonomous status is both an honor and a responsibility,” she stated. “It allows us greater freedom to innovate and implement changes that directly benefit our students.”

As an Autonomous institution, SISC enjoys greater academic flexibility, allowing it to design its own curricula, offer new undergraduate and graduate programs, confer degrees, and establish satellite campuses without needing prior CHED approval. This recognition also streamlines processes and opens up opportunities for grants-in-aid for faculty development, further strengthening SISC’s alignment with global educational standards.

CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera commended the selected institutions, saying, “The 77 autonomous private universities represent the best among our higher educational institutions, producing world-class graduates and appearing in international rankings. I urge other private universities to benchmark and emulate the programs and practices of these top universities.”

The array of courses offered at SISC includes Accountancy, Business Administration with majors in Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, or Financial Management, Communication, Computer Engineering, Education, Information Technology, Multimedia Arts, Nursing, Psychology, Real Estate Management, and Tourism. SISC also offers graduate programs such as Master of Arts in Psychology, Master in Business Administration, and Master in Information Technology.

Looking ahead, Dr. De Leon shared her vision for SISC’s future: “We see this as a stepping stone towards greater things—more dynamic learning environments, impactful community engagements, and ultimately, more successful alumni who lead meaningful lives.” With innovation and excellence as guiding principles, SISC is poised for a bright future, filled with opportunities for its students and meaningful contributions to society.