University of Santo Tomas General Santos

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The University of Santo Tomas General Santos (UST GenSan; Filipino: Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas General Santos) is a private, Catholic higher education institution in General Santos, Philippines. The UST General Santos is the first UST campus in Visayas and Mindanao. It is an extension campus of UST Manila.

The Main Building of the campus opened in 2024.

History

In 1997, the UST Manila administration acquired land in General Santos in barangays Ligaya and Katangawan, intending to establish an extension campus in the city. However, the development of the campus was delayed due to land classification issues. The site was classified as agricultural until 2013 when it was reassigned as institutional land.[1][2][3]

Full development of the campus began with the groundbreaking ceremony held in April 2018. Laying of the foundations began in November 2020 and on December 4, 2021, the topping-off ceremony was held on the view deck.[1][4]

UST GenSan was projected to be operational by 2021,[5] but the opening date was pushed to 2023.[6] The campus would be finally inaugurated on April 11, 2024.[7]

UST GenSan welcomed 126 freshmen students in 2024 and 213 students in 2025.[8][9]

On 8 June 2026, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake in Mindanao damaged the UST GenSan Main Building, with the cross tower toppled. No injuries or casualties were recorded, and access to the building was prohibited while authorities conducted structural assessment.[10]

Campus

The campus covers an area of 82.2 hectares (822,000 m2) and has facilities that could accommodate 15,000 students. Its main building is seven-storey high and is fronted by an open plaza. It has a 100-person capacity chapel, library, clinic, org rooms, an auditorium, and function halls.[5][11]

Future plan includes the establishment of the Arch of the New Century and the UST-Dr. Ricardo S. Po Sr. Integrated Innovation and Research Laboratories (UST PIIRL).[11]

Academics

The university offers five programs under three pioneering schools, namely the School of Health Sciences, School of Business and Accountancy, and School of Engineering and Information Technology. The five pioneer programs are Pharmacy, Medical Technology, Entrepreneurship, Accounting Information Systems, and Industrial Engineering. The campus is set to offer new programs, namely Accountancy, Biology (Major in Medical Biology), and Civil Engineering (Major in Structural Engineering) in 2026.[5][11]

References

  1. 1.[1.2]"UST to start full development of GenSan campus". MindaNews. January 24, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  2. 2."UST Statement on UST GenSan". University of Santo Tomas. November 3, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  3. 3."UST-GenSan Main Building seen completed in 2023, to 'break barriers' in the community". December 4, 2021.
  4. 4."UST-Mindanao breaks ground in GenSan". The Manila Times. May 13, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  5. 5.[5.2][5.3]Limos, Mario Alvaro (December 7, 2021). "UST's General Santos Campus Will Be Four Times Larger Than Its Manila Campus". Esquire. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  6. 6."UST-GenSan posibleng mahimong operational sa 2023". Brigada News. BNFM Gensan. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  7. 7.Chavez, Pot (April 11, 2024). "UST opens campus in General Santos City". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  8. 8.Sarao, Zacarian (April 12, 2024). "UST unveils Gen. Santos City campus". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  9. 9.Sarao, Zacarian (September 2, 2024). "UST GenSan opens gates to freshmen in first Thomasian Welcome Walk". Interaksyon. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  10. 10.Aldovino, Sofiah (June 8, 2026). "Magnitude 7.8 quake off Sarangani topples UST GenSan cross tower". Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  11. 11.[11.2][11.3]Zapanta, Logan Kal-El (April 11, 2024). "Largest UST campus opens in GenSan". The Varsitarian. Retrieved April 11, 2024.