ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

“Being the first engineering school in the country, this accreditation is another evidence of the University’s ‘excellence that is timely, relevance that is timeless’. Innovative strategies are in place to allow our programs to evolve with the constantly changing demands of the global professional practice of engineering without losing the Thomasian Identity. We have been eager to show how our programs produce graduates with training and achievements that are suitable for seamless transition to engineering professional practice worldwide. This accreditation confirms that. Most importantly, we are glad how this adds value to the Thomasian Engineering degree, which can open many doors for our graduates.”

Sought worldwide, ABET’s voluntary peer-review process is highly respected because it adds critical value to academic programs in the technical disciplines, where quality, precision, and safety are of the utmost importance.

Developed by technical professionals from ABET’s member societies, ABET criteria focus on what students experience and learn. ABET accreditation reviews look at program curricula, faculty, facilities, and institutional support and are conducted by teams of highly skilled professionals from industry, academia, and government, with expertise in the ABET disciplines.

ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization with ISO 9001:2015 certification. It currently accredits 4,144 programs at 812 colleges and universities in 32 countries.

More information about ABET, its member societies, and the accreditation criteria used to evaluate programs can be found at www.abet.org.

The , established in 1907, is the oldest engineering school in the country. Its program offerings and their year of establishment are: (1907), (1934), (1940), (1946), (1963), and (1977).

The Commission on Higher Education has recognized all six Engineering programs. Chemical Engineering is a Center of Excellence, while Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and Industrial Engineering are Centers of Development. Both Chemical Engineering and Electronics Engineering are certified by the AUN-QA while all six programs are accredited by the Accreditation and Certification Board for Engineering and Technology of the Philippine Technological Council (ACBET-PTC) and the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU).

The academic officials include , Dean, Rev. Fr. Roberto Luanzon, Jr. OP, Regent, who is also the UST Acting Vice Rector for Finance, Assoc. Prof. Ricardo S. Balog, M.Eng., Assistant Dean, and Faculty Secretary, Engr. Evangeline E. Deleña. The Program Chairs at the time of accreditation process are Engr. Rajiv Eldon E. Abdullah, M.Eng. (Civil Engineering), Engr. Mark Emile H. Punzalan, M.Sc. (Chemical Engineering), Asst. Prof. Nelson M. Pasamonte, PME, MS., ASEAN ENG., FPSME (Mechanical Engineering), Asst. Prof. Fortunato C. Leynes, MBA, PEE (Electrical Engineering), Prof. Angelo R. Dela Cruz, Ph.D., PECE (Electronics Engineering, and Assoc. Prof. Joehanna K. Ngo, Ph.D, PIE, ASEAN Engr (Industrial Engineering). The current Chairs of Chemical Engineering and Electrical Engineering are Engr. Cristina E. Tiangco, Ph.D. and Asst. Prof. Carlito M. Gutierrez, M.Eng., respectively. The accreditation process was facilitated by the Engineering Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement Program (EACQuIP) with Asst. Prof. Ma. Luisa T. Asilo, M.Eng. as coordinator.

The Faculty’s numerous alumni have established themselves in the various areas of engineering and other fields, among others, in business and entrepreneurship. To name a few, the roster includes alumni such as Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong, the founding President and current Chairman of Jollibee Foods Corporation, William T. Belo, the CEO Emeritus of Wilcon Corporation, and Dr. Lydia G. Tansinsin, former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

For more information about UST’s bachelor’s degree programs in Engineering, visit .

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Balog, longtime former Assistant Dean of the , was included after received the 2018 Mario Cruel Award for Advanced Engineering Technology Application, for his research on low-cost medical devices.

Among Balog’s innovations are: a low-cost, multi-purpose, adjustable, and self-restraining retractor used by surgeons in performing surgery on a patient’s abdominal area; and an orthopedic device used to correct misaligned / dislocated bones, particularly a patient’s lower limb bones.

Balog joins fellow Filipinos from the University of the Philippines – Diliman, Los Baños, and Manila, as well as De La Salle University – Manila and the Department of Science and Technology.

The Asian Scientist 100, which is now on its fourth edition, acknowledges the achievements of scientists in the continent. According to the website, these scientists must have received a national or international prize for his / her research in the previous year. Alternatively, he / she must have made a significant scientific discovery or provided leadership in academia or industry.

The full list can be accessed via: /

#ThomasianExcellence #ThomasianEngineers #ThomasianScientists

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Among Balog’s functionally innovative medical and scientific instruments which answered or solved the technological needs of medical doctors, other professionals and researchers are:

(1) A low-cost surgical instrument, multi-purpose, adjustable and self-retaining retractor used by surgeons in performing surgery in a patient’s abdominal area, used at the UST Clinical Division and a self-retaining retractor surgical instrument used by surgeons while performing surgery on the patient’s throat, used by doctors of the UST Medical Missions, Inc. in their medical missions in Sapang Palay and ultimately at the UST Hospital;

(2) A clamp anywhere “flexible retractor stand-holder which holds in place a retractor used in surgical operation (e.g. hemorrhoidectomy) at the UST Hospital which enables doctors to perform operation even outside of the operating room without surgical assistance;

(3) An orthopedic device, used to correct misaligned/dislocated bones, that is, to stretch/lengthen/realign patient’s lower limb bones;

(4) A practical heat block apparatus for the loop-mediated amplification (LAMP)-based detection of shrimp pathogens under the gram, Biotechnology for Shrimp: Utilizing Molecular Technologies to Elucidate Shrimp Immunity and Develop Disease Diagnostics” with Dr. Mary Beth Maningas of the UST Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences. In addition, a heating block stand was created to hold vials that contain the shrimp test specimen of the above-mentioned project; and

(5) A balut vending machine prototype which is a part of “Project 5” (Market Research) of the “Itik Pinas” Program of Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

The Mario Cruel award is being given by the family of Mario Cruel to continue his legacy. Cruel, a Filipino Electrical Engineer and entrepreneur, is a staunch supporter of sustainable energy, gender equality and environment protection. Engr. Balog is the first recipient of this award. The other awardees for this year are: Dr. Rosalinda Torres for Gregorio Zara Award for Basic Science Research, Dr. Marissa Paglicawan for Gregorio Zara Award for Applied Science Research, Dr. Rody Sy for the Dr. Paulo Campos Award for Health Research, Dr. Artemio Salazar for the Leads Agri Award for Agricultural Research, and Dr. Elmer Dadios for the David M. Consunji Award for Engineering Research.

Aside from teaching, Balog also served as director of the now defunct Institute of Technological Courses, and supervisor of the Machine Shop Laboratory. It was in those years that he started to be actively involved in the University community service activities by lending his expertise in fabrication, construction and training. He was part of the construction of Onters for the Aeta communities in Sitios Malasa, Mabilog, San Martin and Sta. Rosa in Bamban, Tarlac, the installation of support structures for UST’s Long Distance Education Program for the Aeta communities, the design and installation of water pump and piping system for the water supply systems in Sitio Buoc, Bamban, Tarlac . He also designed the course which he himself uses as trainor in the annual skills training in Metal Fabrication and Welding in coordination with the University’s training and education program known as Vocational Skills Training and communities needing Engineering Program (VSTEP) which is given to out-of-school-youths and residents of adopted communities.

Balog graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in , and a Master in Engineering Program major in Mechanical Engineering from the UST . He trained in Mechanical Engineering for Production in Japan under the JICA Vocational Instructors’ Training Course.

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