General Info

[GoodEnough]

If we conflate job placement and educational quality, then the former might be a definitive criterion. Of course, we would also want to consider the quality of the jobs obtained, and that consideration might skew the results negatively, since, cat least in my view, spending four years, for example, obtaining an HRM degree and subsequently securing a job as a waitress might cause one to question the value of a degree.

I would argue however that ascribing too much value to "placement" carries with it the strong implication that a primary function of a university is vocational, whereas I still retain the (perhaps overly idealistic) belief that intellectual development remains a university's primary function, and in that regard most tertiary institutions here fail miserably. The reasons for this are well known to many of us who have worked with schools here: inadequate physical plants, poorly trained faculty, lockstep curricula, inconsistent language (s) of instruction, minimal exposure to art, music, literature, and discouragement of intellectual curiosity.

Granted that virtually all surveys are based on core values or criteria with which reasonable people may disagree. I would argue however, that this survey's assessment of universities here is accurate.

GE.

[Soapy Smith]

A much better measure is to look at the employment outcomes for a University or College; how many graduates actually pass the Licensure exams for entry to the various professions, such as Education, Law, Nursing, Engineering, Surveying. How many actually get jobs in the profession in which they trained.

I agree. I explained a few years ago why the QS research design is flawed. It is tremendously over-represented by American and British evaluators. Participation is voluntary and there is no apparent effort to control for representativeness in the analysis. I was encouraged to participate from a particular Korean university with which I have had some interaction in the past. For the last two weeks before the deadline to participate they bombarded me with emails lauding all their wonderful programs, explanations as to the importance of the QS ranking, and convenient hotlinks to the online survey. I do not want to participate under those circumstances. I am sure there are several other participants on the Phils board who would be eligible to participate, but it would have been no less a waste of their time.

As RK points out, outcomes--actual placement rates--are far better indicators than prestige ratings or schools' strategic abilities to market themselves.

BTW, UP, at 63rd, actually ranked highest among the Philippine schools. Despite paying their faculty less competitive salaries, they are simply most selective in their admission of students. Brightest students coming in are pretty much the brightest students going out. Unfortunately, this tends to perpetuate class relations in the Phils, since the quality of high school preparation is heavily skewed toward private schools. A kid from a poor provincial public school who gets admitted to UP has gotten there on the basis of hard work and truly fast-firing synapses. I've been told that there was a previous policy to automatically extend acceptance to the top three finishers in every high school in the country. But that is no longer so--for reasons both good and bad.

[Red Kilt]

. . .< SNIP > . . .

Now am sure the methodology of assessing each university will be questioned and I am no expert but this is just for information for those who are interested.

A major criterion in the QS ranking is research quantum. Unless any University has a high proportion of spending on research then its ranking will drop, as has happened for Australian Universities with their large reduction in research budgets as a result of government cuts.

QS ranking is not a worthwhile means to assess whether your support for any filipina is well-placed unless you are generous enough to be subsidising a place in the private schools mentioned by WR.

Most of the regional universities are not even ranked once you get to place 300 or so in the Asian rankings. They are all just lumped together as "more than 300".

A much better measure is to look at the employment outcomes for a University or College; how many graduates actually pass the Licensure exams for entry to the various professions, such as Education, Law, Nursing, Engineering, Surveying. How many actually get jobs in the profession in which they trained.

This date is available from the Commission for Higher Education (CHED) or the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) websites. Philippines Business for Education (PBEd) also has a useful set of data on its website. Note that it doesn't include those with, for example, teaching degrees who are working in call centers.

[Wicked Roger]

There has been debate on the effectiveness of any Philippine university and its abilities to compete on the wider stage (ie Asia not the world!

The latest QS survey seems to suggest that the previous conclusions on the low standards etc are true if this survey is to be given credence. Those who understand the education sector in the country will know more and may offer more informed comment.

The links below are self explanatory In the Asia's top 300 so few Philippines institutions (Ateneo Manila, De la Salle and Ateneo Davao only in the top 300 and then around 150 and well below) but look at the score on the box and see it is below 50 so really IMHO this shows that universities here are failing their students.

Juts a thought for those who sponsor a cutie to get a degree. Which is very important for many who get it and their families but in the wider competitive world?

http://www.topuniversities.com/unive...-rankings/2014#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=.

http://www.topuniversities.com/unive...-rankings/2014#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=.

Now am sure the methodology of assessing each university will be questioned and I am no expert but this is just for information for those who are interested.

[Hutsori]

I have been to Phil 28 times since 2004 and have personally been treated rudely by Koreans many times. I don't understand why they think they are better than anyone else. It's not ALL Koreans though. I use Korean Airlines exclusively and their flight attendants and Airline staff are very courteous. Of course they are getting paid to be nice. LOL.

Cheer up, m8. It's not as dire as it seems. Sure they detest you. But they loathe each other even more.

[Nightrider1]

I don't want to see physical harm to Koreans. I do want to see a big advertising campaign saying that PH citizens should be very suspect of those visiting from Korea. I've traveled 30+ countries and never seen "tourists" more horrible than Koreans in PH.

I have been to Phil 28 times since 2004 and have personally been treated rudely by Koreans many times. I don't understand why they think they are better than anyone else. It's not ALL Koreans though. I use Korean Airlines exclusively and their flight attendants and Airline staff are very courteous. Of course they are getting paid to be nice. LOL.

[Wicked Roger]

I don't want to see physical harm to Koreans. I do want to see a big advertising campaign saying that PH citizens should be very suspect of those visiting from Korea. I've traveled 30+ countries and never seen "tourists" more horrible than Koreans in PH.

Sxxxx. Please see this and note the comments (as well as read my PM). I gather you have been PMing a few members saying we are naïve etc but others also think some Koreans are bad tourists in many ways. Go to Globe or Metro supermarket and watch them. Some are nice, many unfortunately are rude and arrogant (or ignorant).

[Wander Luster]

The South Korean embassy in Manila expressed alarm Thursday at a rise in crimes against its nationals in the Philippines, citing the killing of nine South Koreans this year alone.

I don't want to see physical harm to Koreans. I do want to see a big advertising campaign saying that PH citizens should be very suspect of those visiting from Korea. I've traveled 30+ countries and never seen "tourists" more horrible than Koreans in PH.

[Red Kilt]

I posted this in the "Living in the Philippines" thread but I will re-post it here so that more guys who are interested and / or contemplating a change will be more likely to see it.

This link is to The Age newspaper (in Australia).

http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/carry-on-abroad-20140818-3dv6x.html

[Lonely566]

I've never had any issues at San Francisco airport in the last ten trips. Once I got tagged for luggage search but it was fairly quick.

I have been to several places and taken lots of video that I not need my mom to see. Or customs. No problem so far. I tinking of mailing my memory chips home.

Anybody do that? DHL or FEDEX?

[D Cups]

Returning back to the us from phi any issues at customs for single male traveler. Do they get nosy?

I've never had any issues at San Francisco airport in the last ten trips. Once I got tagged for luggage search but it was fairly quick.

[Kabul Guy]

I've never had any problems entering LA but they are nosy. There have been a few reports here of them checking your cell phone and or computer for stuff. Make sure you have no images saved you don't want to share.

You can always encrypt the images and send them to the cloud and then reinstate them on your hard drive once clear of Customs and other snoops.

[Tally Wacker]

Returning back to the us from phi any issues at customs for single male traveler. Do they get nosy?

I've never had any problems entering LA but they are nosy. There have been a few reports here of them checking your cell phone and or computer for stuff. Make sure you have no images saved you don't want to share.

[Levitraboner]

Returning back to the us from phi any issues at customs for single male traveler. Do they get nosy?

Don't sweat that. You're a tourist.

[Kman1]

Returning back to the us from phi any issues at customs for single male traveler. Do they get nosy?