Message from the University President

It’s an exciting time to be an Atenean! As we enter a new academic year, we are proud to announce the realization of one of our Magis aspirations: introducing co-educational offerings in Basic Education. This school year, we joyfully welcome female Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 7 students, a significant step towards a more inclusive and diverse Ateneo community. By SY 2029-2030, all Basic Education levels will be fully co-educational, strengthening our commitment to equality and diversity. This shift broadens our students’ horizons and enriches our community's fabric. We are deeply grateful to the parents of these young learners, many of whom are alumni, for their trust in us. 

With the expansion, we are also gearing up for significant facility improvements that will transform the Ateneo experience. A new classroom building will rise in the Junior High School, near the St Stanislaus Kostka Chapel, in what used to be the left wing of the Montserrat/Grade 9 area. If you’ve been on campus, you would also have noticed the renovation of the Blue Eagle Gym (BEG).

Opened in 1949, BEG has witnessed many significant events, from sports-related activities such as basketball and volleyball games to the Baccalaureate Mass of the Ateneo Grade School and various concerts. When completed, the upgraded BEG will be a source of pride for us all. The fully air-conditioned, state-of-the-art facility will significantly enhance the student experience, providing a conducive environment for both academic and extracurricular activities. With a seating capacity of 4850 for sporting events and 7000 for educational and cultural activities, it will have a 3-lane indoor running track, a FIBA-compliant competition basketball court, retractable seats that open up to the playing area to accommodate two practice basketball courts or two practice volleyball courts, a fitness gym, a rehab center, multi-sports training areas, and concessionaire stands. And, of course, with our long-standing reputation of student athletic accomplishments, the renovated BEG will have the Ateneo Sports Hall of Fame, a testament to our collective achievements.

Our academic excellence, a source of pride for students and alumni, continues to flourish. In the 2024 QS World University Ranking by Subject, Ateneo de Manila has been recognized in four subjects: Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies (ranking 101-140); English Language and Literature (151-200): Modern Languages (201-250), and Business and Management Studies (451-500). This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty, and staff. We also improved our rankings in the Broad Subject Areas of Social Sciences & Management (401-500) and Arts & Humanities (325). Last year, we ranked 451 to 500 and 401 to 450, respectively. With this, Ateneo de Manila remains the highest-ranked Philippine institution in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Rankings!

We have likewise kept our momentum in fostering our sustainability practices and initiatives. In the 2024 THE Impact Rankings,  we ranked in the top 100 globally with our best scores in the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):  SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 14 (life below water), and SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions). Among the more than 50 Philippine universities on the list, Ateneo de Manila is the highest-rated, a feat we have achieved for three consecutive years.

Earlier this year, the MD-MBA program of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health and the Ateneo Graduate School of Business received accreditation from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities. This achievement reflects the quality standards we placed on our MD-MBA Program, the only one in Southeast Asia.

We recently launched our institutional Climate Action Plan (CAP). Our CAP will serve as a roadmap for addressing climate change drivers and impacts in alignment with another of our Magis dreams - carbon neutrality by 2030 and becoming a Laudato Si’ University. A Core Working Group led by former President Fr Jett Villarin SJ will work on the goals, milestones, and mechanisms of our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. We have also formed a Campus Mobility Forum, comprising members from across the university community, to engage in conversations and discussions on making Ateneo a healthy and thriving living and learning campus.

These are just a few highlights, which I hope will help us grow and thrive as one Ateneo de Manila community.  Indeed, it is an exciting time to be an Atenean!