With more than 84,000 students nationwide, National University (NU) continues to expand access to quality higher education and professional opportunities beyond Metro Manila through its growing network of campuses in the provinces.
NU now operates in seven cities outside the capital, including NU Bacolod, its first campus in the Visayas, where 96 percent of employees are locals, with the remainder transferred from other NU campuses. NU Laguna employs 99 percent local staff; NU Baliwag, 98 percent; NU Dasmarinas, 96 percent with 4 percent transferees; NU Lipa, 98 percent; and NU Clark, 97 percent. NU Cebu, which opened this academic year, reports 100 percent local hires.
By establishing campuses in the regions, NU enables professors and students to pursue quality education and meaningful employment without leaving their hometowns. A standardized compensation package across all campuses further supports talent retention by making provincial posts as competitive and attractive as those in urban centers, helping address the issue of brain drain.
“We bring talent back to the provinces. NU offers a standardized salary matrix applicable to all our employees across the country. This approach has helped make our recruitment more appealing to applicants in provincial regions,” said NU President and CEO Dr. Renato Carlos Ermita.
Strengthening local ecosystems by aligning education, labor, and development policies is essential to narrowing the gap between urban and rural communities. As part of the SM Group’s expanding social footprint, NU campuses play a key role in helping local communities retain educational talent and contribute to the social economy, reinforcing SM’s vision of responsible community development.
“NU is part of SM’s corporate social responsibility. By integrating campuses within SM communities, accessibility is improved and affordability is maintained. Transportation hubs are also located near most of our mall-based campuses, ensuring safety and convenience for both students and employees,” Dr. Ermita added.
Back home
At NU Cebu, the university’s impact is reflected in the experiences of returning locals like Executive Director Johanna Minglana. “We have all local hires, with three of us returning from NU Manila where we were based before NU Cebu opened. The campus gave me the opportunity to come full circle in my birthplace after decades of growing up in Manila, while continuing my academic career,” she shared.
Minglana noted that her experience mirrors that of many faculty members and employees. Working at NU Cebu has allowed them to build meaningful careers without leaving their families or communities, while contributing to nation-building through education and remaining rooted in local culture and values. These stories, she said, reflect NU Cebu’s broader commitment to regional development and talent retention.
Having been part of the NU system since 2012, Minglana described NU Cebu as a clear expression of SM’s role as a catalyst for community development. “What keeps me here is the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our students and to contribute meaningfully to the development of my hometown. It’s a privilege to be part of a transformative journey that uplifts not just individuals, but entire communities,” she said.
Beyond education, NU Cebu also stimulates the local economy by generating employment within the university and supporting nearby businesses such as food establishments, boarding houses, transportation services, and retail outlets. The daily activities of students, faculty, and staff contribute to a vibrant local economy within a fun, safe, and secure environment.
Recently, NU marked its 125th founding anniversary, its quasquicentennial year, with a celebration at the SM MOA Sky attended by thousands of alumni. As the university moves forward, it remains committed to providing world-class, life-ready education that equips its students and graduates to compete and thrive, whether in provincial communities or beyond.
