University of Southern Mindanao


The University of Southern Mindanao, formerly Mindanao Institute of Technology, is a university in the Southern Philippines. It provides instruction and professional training in the fields of science and technology, particularly agriculture and industry. The university was founded by Bai Hadja Fatima Matabay Plang, an educator and philanthropist. It formally open on October 1, 1954, and achieved university status on March 13, 1978. Its 1,024 hectare main campus is located in Kabacan, Cotabato. The University of Southern Mindanao is one of the four State University and Colleges to achieve excellence in agricultural education and one of the nine to hold Level IV status. Across its 3 campuses USM holds a total of 5,129.97 hectares of land, mostly for agricultural teaching and research.

History

The USM main campus used to be a rubber plantation owned and managed by a Scot named Fleming, who was granted an area of 1,024 hectares in 1909. The ownership changed hands several times until the Japanese occupation, when it came under the control of Ohta Development Company. After the Americans defeated the Japanese in 1944, this compound was taken over by the United States government until 1947, when it was transferred to the Philippine government. It was not until the 1950s that the Maguindanao princess, Bai Hadja Fatima Matabay Plang, started the movement to establish the Mindanao Institute of Technology. She was supported in this venture by Datu Udtog Matalam, then governor of Empire Province, Cotabato, and by congressman Salipada Pendatun.
President Elpidio Quirino signed R.A. 763, the law creating the Mindanao Institute of Technology, on June 20, 1952. On June 10, 1954, President Ramon Magsaysay signed republic act no. 998, the enabling act for the establishment and subsequent operation for MIT, with an initial allocation of P 200,000 for the school’s operation.
On March 13, 1978 President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed presidential decree no. 1312 which converted the Mindanao Institute of Technology into a university. Dr. Jaman S. Imlan was the first university president. As a university USM was mandated to have a three key roles: instruction, research, and extension. A fourth, resource generation, was later added.
The university's key function is teaching and instruction, this is carried out by almost 500 faculty members.

Instruction

Instruction is provided for tertiary and advanced level courses. The ten colleges, one institute and 2 extension campuses offer a total of 46 degree courses. In addition, the university maintains laboratories for its teacher training programme and special short courses. It also offers special programs and special courses.

Graduate programs

Doctor of Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Biology Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy in Extension Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Rural Development
Master in Information Systems
Master of Engineering in Rural Infrastructure Engineering
Master in Public Administration
Master of Arts in Education, major in Educational Management
Master of Arts in Education, major in Home Economics Education
Master of Arts in Mathematics
Master of Arts in Teaching Industrial Arts
Master of Arts in Language Teaching
Master of Arts in Islamic Studies
Master of Science in Agricultural Economics
Master of Science in Agricultural Education
Master of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Master of Science in Agronomy
Master of Science in Animal Science
Master of Science in Aquaculture
Master of Science in Biology
Master of Science in Crop Protection
Master of Science in Development Communication
Master of Science in Extension Education
Master of Science in Horticulture
Master of Science in Rural and Economic Development
Master of Science in Plant Breeding
Master of Science in Teaching Biology
Master of Science in Teaching Chemistry
Master of Science in Teaching Mathematics
Master of Science in Teaching Physics

Colleges (Main Campus)

College of Agriculture

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Bachelor of Science in Farming Systems
Bachelor of Science in Fisheries
Bachelor of Practical Agriculture
Certificate of Agriculture Sciences
Oil Palm Production and Technology
Rubber Technology
Plantation Crops Production and Management
Halal Livestock and Poultry Production

College of Arts & Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in English
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Bachelor of Science in Criminology
Bachelor of Science in Development Communication

College of Business, Development Economics and Management

Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
Bachelor of Science in Accounting Technology
Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Developmental Management

College of Education

Bachelor of Elementary Education
Bachelor of Secondary Education
Diploma in Teaching Elementary Education
Diploma in Teaching Secondary Education

College of Engineering and Information Technology

Bachelor of Library and Information Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Information Systems

College of Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy
Diploma in Midwifery

College of Human Ecology and Food Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Food Technology
Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics
Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management
Bachelor of Science in Travel Management

College of Industry and Technology (Department of Industrial Technology)

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology
Bachelor of Technical Teacher Education
Special Trades Course

College of Veterinary Medicine

Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Aide

Institute of Middle East & Asian Studies

Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies
Bachelor of Science in International Relations

Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation

Bachelor of Physical Education

Other Colleges

College of Education – Buluan Extension

Bachelor of Elementary Education
Bachelor of Secondary Education

College of Industry and Technology – University of Southern Mindanao, Kidapawan City Campus

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor of Technology
Bachelor of Technology Teacher Education

Research

Research is a major function of the university. Research activities are mostly carried out by its research arms: the University of Southern Mindanao Agricultural Research Center and the Philippine Industrial Crops Research Institute. USMARC is the national research center for corn, sorghum, and fruit crops; the regional center for rice and other cereals, livestock and farming systems, water resources, applied rural sociology, cut flowers, and ornamental plants; and a cooperating station for coconut and vegetable crops. PICRI is the national research institute for rubber, fiber crops, coffee, spices, cacao, and other industrial crops. Attached to PICRI is the Philippine Rubber Testing Center, for dried natural rubber. USM hosts two organized bodies which do research and development activities: the Cotabato Agricultural and Resources Research and Development Consortium, a research consortium of agencies in Central Mindanao and the Philippine Carabao Center, a member of the national PCC network.

Extension

Coordinated by the University's Extension Office, extension work is carried out by the colleges and research units, either on their own or in collaboration with other government agencies and private organizations. Provision of extension services takes the form of training various clientele groups, most of whom are farmers; technical assistance to sectors; social laboratory projects; demonstration farms; consultancy services and public education, through personal contacts and mass media.

Resource generation

The USM's resource generation program generates a sizeable income to augment the operating fund of the university and serves as a laboratory for horticulture, animal science, agronomy, and agribusiness. Research areas include rice and corn; buffalo, cattle and sheep; swine; poultry; durian, lanzones, mango, calamansi and other citrus fruits; coconut, banana, marang, guyabano, rambutan, and pineapple. The USM is noted for its OPV corn seeds and quality grafted/budded seedlings of fruit and plantation crops. USM hostels also host self-sustaining business ventures or income generation projects.

Facilities and research centers

USM maintains affiliations and links to both local and international government, non-governmental organizations, private-sector companies and academic institutions for research, development, extension and teaching.

Publication

The university produces several publications. The USM Press, USM Monitor, Techno Guide, USM R & D Journal. The University student magazine is Mindanao Tech. Every college and institute has its own student publication.