PHL's ‘Big Four’ shift school calendars to synch with ASEAN

University of the Philippines Diliman's decision to shift its academic calendar on Friday means that the country's "big four" universities will all be adjusting their schedules to synch with ASEAN counterparts in the coming school years.

Earlier this month, De La Salle University (DLSU) announced the change in its schedule, with classes starting on the first week of September instead of the last week of May for Academic Year 2015-2016.

"De La Salle University recognizes the need to align its academic calendar with the member universities of the ASEAN University Network and the rest of its international partner academic institutions, consistent with the vision ASEAN Economic Community 2015," the university said in a statement sent to GMA News Online. 

"This move is envisioned to facilitate the mobility of our students and faculty members who engage in exchange programs, and research collaborations and other initiatives," DLSU said. 

DLSU joins Ateneo De Manila University and University of Santo Tomas (UST) in implementing the complete shift in 2015.

UST will start AY 2014-2015 in July "as a gradual transition to a much later date for the opening of the school year in 2015-2016 and onwards."

The UP System's shift in its academic calendar, however, will take effect in August this year. UP Diliman was the last campus in the UP System to approve the shift.

UP, ADMU, DLSU, UST, casually called the Big Four universities in the Philippines, all cited ASEAN integration as the reason for adjusting their academic calendar . — Roehl Niño Bautista/JDS, GMA News