AMA Computer University

AMA Institute of Computer Studies

AMA University and its sister school AMA Computer College (AMACC) were founded by Dr. Amable R. Aguiluz V, who named them after the initials of his father's name, Amable Mendoza Aguiluz, Sr. Dr. Aguiluz saw the demand for fully trained computer professionals in the country. However, no institution in the country offered computer education to professionals.

Aguiluz founded the AMA Institute of Computer Studies with the first computer school located along Shaw Boulevard on October 20, 1980. At that time, AMA Institute of Computer Studies offered only short-term courses in Electronic Data Processing Fundamentals, Basic Programming, and Technology Career. Three student enrolled at the AMA Institute of Computer Studies during the first semester.

AMA Computer College, branches and sister schools

AMA Computer College came into existence in June 1980. It extended its services through a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. With only a handful of students in its first year of operation, the AMACC student population rose dramatically from 600 in 1983 to 2,000 in 1985 in its first official campus in Makati City. Shortly after, it established its main campus in Quezon City. Two provincial campuses were then founded in Cebu and Davao City.

With the passage of the Philippine Republic Act No. 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994, privately controlled educational institutions' academic fees were deregulated. AMA increased tuition fees then solved the problem of low student population by embarking on a marketing, advertising and information campaign.

The emergence of AMACC led to the birth of AMA Computer Learning Center (ACLC) in 1986 and AMA Telecommunication & Electronic Learning Center in 1996. The former offers short-course programs for professionals and two-year technical/vocational courses for those who wish to acquire employment skills. The latter is one of the first schools in the Philippines to concentrate on telecommunication, electronics, and related technologies.

It was the first school in the country to fully integrate the Internet into its curriculum. Since 1987, all major AMA colleges have been interconnected through a local area network (LAN), which converted them into one nationwide school system.

In 1991, Aguiluz gained accreditation for AMA Computer College in the American League of Colleges and Universities (ALOCU), thus, making AMA the first Filipino and non-American school to do so. AMACC became an official member of the John F. Kennedy Educational Institute in Japan. AMACC is accredited by the National Computing Centre United Kingdom.

Elevation to university

AMACU's Quality Management System has been ISO 9001-certified since March 1999 by Société Générale de Surveillance International Certification Services Canada, Inc.

AMA Computer College of Quezon City became AMA Computer University following the conferment of university status by the Philippine government's Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on August 20, 2002.

In 2003, AMA Computer University inked a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University's iCarnegie to use its curriculum and courses through e-learning. Previously, ICarnegie had approached STI for the agreement, but opted to stick with AMACU instead. As stated by iCarnegie President and CEO Allan Fisher, "the academic relationship between STI and iCarnegie went well, the business side of the agreement did not go as planned".

12 years after its elevation as university, AMA tapped Hewlett-Packard Philippines for the development and implementation of software testing academic subjects of its Information Technology degree course.

Other AMA Computer College campuses

The Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) did not accredit other AMA campuses to use the title "University" and only permitted to use the title of "College" or "Institute" as these campuses have not met the requirements needed by the Philippine academic regulatory body.

In 2003, AMA Education system brokered a partnership with the government of Bahrain to establish the AMA International University in Manama.

AMA University Online Education

AMA University, the Asia's first and largest network of Schools and Universities has finally launched the very first and only full online platform offering full degree programs in the Philippines. As a dominant provider of holistic, relevant, and quality IT-based education, AMA University Online Education aims to educate every Filipino and anyone in the world who needs access to education in any region, in different timezone hence producing professionals and leaders that will be responsive to the developments of technology and the international community.

With two of the flagship which AMA University is known for and has pioneered also in the Philippines, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, these CHEd and Level 3 PACUCOA Accredited Programs are now accessible without the hassle of flying to the Philippines or going to school. The advancement of technology opened AMA an opportunity to provide access and finish a degree through smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop making it very convenient for every student to learn and master lectures at their own pace, through their own ways.

Every trimester in AMA University Online lasts for 14 weeks (eq. to approx. 3 months) but with no definite start date. Which means once enrolled, the student may start right away and finish the degree within a 14-week duration. The student will no longer be late as they could access the lessons and even take assessments on their most convenient time, at their most convenient place.

With the overwhelming response of the Philippines market especially by the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), AMA University Online Education has partnered with the world's leading content and training providers such as Lynda.com (a Linkedin Company), McGraw Hill Education, Microsoft Virtual Academy, among others.

Athletic programs

In 2001, AMA joined the newly created National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU). The AMACU Titans had a rocky start but in 2006, they beat their corporate rivals, the STI Olympians and became the 2006 NAASCU Champions. It participates in the Collegiate Champions League, composed of top ranked varsity teams in the Philippines.

Dataline

Dataline, the official student publication of the university, has an office on the 2nd floor of the college building, releasing an issue each term. It is one of the two official student organizations of the university, the other being the Student Council (SC).

I Love You Virus

In 1999, AMA Computer College Makati student Onel de Guzman submitted a thesis proposal for the creation of a computer program that will hack into computer systems and extract vital information, particularly Internet Service accounts. The proposal was unanimously rejected by the College of Computer Studies' academic board. De Guzman was scheduled to complete his studies in 2000 and an academic subject called "Thesis A" was one of his final requirements before graduation.

After commencement day on 3 May 2000, an e-mail trojan called "ILOVEYOU" spread internationally and caused delays in several online transactions. The ILOVEYOU virus unleashed a flood of e-mail that hit at least 45 million users in at least 20 countries according to one estimate. The virus started with "ILOVEYOU" in the subject line, but several variations appeared soon afterward, including one masquerading as an e-mail joke and another as a receipt for a Mother's Day gift. The virus both replicates itself and steals the user names and passwords of unsuspecting victims. The e-mail replies from angry virus recipients to the creator passed through the United States e-mail address "[email protected]", which then forwarded them to the two Access.Net (Philippine Internet Service Provider) e-mail accounts used by the virus creator - "[email protected]" and "[email protected]".

According to Guinness World Records, the ILOVEYOU virus was the fastest-spreading computer worm until the release of Mydoom in 2004. The virus was traced to an apartment room in downtown Manila where De Guzman was residing. De Guzman was invited by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for questioning, and in an interview, admitted spreading the virus "by accident". In response, AMA expelled de Guzman from AMA Makati and considered him a "drop out" for life. The NBI charged De Guzman for violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act oF 1998. However, due to lack of sufficiency, the justice ministry dropped the charges as there was no clear legislation regulating the Internet. As a result of the incident, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada signed into law Republic Act 8792, known as the Philippine Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 on 14 June 2000.

Political affiliations

Amable Aguiluz V was Joseph Estrada's political endorser in the 1998 Presidential elections. Aguiluz resigned from the Commission in November 1999 due to a controversial purchase of equipment by the commission from a subsidiary of the AMA Group of Companies.

Aguiluz's father Amable Aguiluz Sr. was Diosdado Macapagal' s friend and Aguiluz Sr. served as Chairman and Auditor-general of the Commission on Audit in the 1960s. Arroyo was invited to AMA's sponsored political rallies. In 1995, Arroyo attended a political rally in AMA when she ran for re-election as senator. Arroyo attended all graduation rites for AMA from 2002 to 2005. Arroyo cited AMA for not participating in cause oriented and student activist groups. Arroyo appointed Aguiluz as Presidential Adviser for the Middle East.

AMA's survey regarding Hello Garci scandal

The 2005 Hello Garci scandal, also known as the 2004 Presidential election rigging controversy, is one of the controversies against the President Gloria Arroyo. AMA commissioned four related SWS national public opinion surveys dated October 22 and 27, 2005. These questions are:
1) The Congress and Senate are just wasting money and time in their investigations regarding jueteng and the Garci tapes, 2) The opposition does not have a clear plan for the country. Its only objective is to bring down the current administration, 3) Often, news on television, on radio and in newspapers are purely negative and are no longer helping the country, 4) In spite of the accusations being hurled against Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, she still continues to implement good reforms.
Many militant groups and opposition politicians questioned the survey questions. The results of the survey are:

School principal case resolution

On January 23, 2007, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the NLRC regarding the dismissal of a high school principal.

A high school principal was promoted on May 13, 1996 but an incident four days later led to her dismissal. A cashier at the company, carried a brown envelope containing PhP 47,299.34 to the comfort room of the school. While inside, she placed the envelope on top of the (toilet bowl) tank. After she left the room, she realized the envelope was left behind, hence she returned to the comfort room, but the envelope was already gone. The incident was reported to the area director, who told that the only person she recalled entering the comfort room after her was the school principal. Investigation of the school principal was ordered. Thereafter, she was brought to the barangay office and the incident was entered in its blotter. On May 20, 1996, she was suspended.

School officials served the principal several notices to appear during the hearings and to submit her written explanation, but the hearings were always cancelled. On June 19, 1996, AMA dismissed the principal on the ground of loss of trust and confidence. On June 21, 1996, school officials sent her another notice directing her to appear on the June 27, 1996 hearing and to submit a written explanation. The hearing was, again, cancelled. On July 1, 1996, AMA finally terminated her employment.

On August 14, 1996, Garay filed a complaint for her dismissal and on September 14, 1998, NLRC Labor Arbiter Eduardo Carpio rendered judgment. He ruled that there was no material and direct evidence to show that the employee took the collections. NLRC ordered AMA to immediately reinstate her to her former or substantially equal position and pay her backwages computed in the amount of P300,000.00 (July 1, 1996 to December 31, 1998 = 30 months. P10,000.00 x 30 months = P300,000.00), moral damages of PhP 100,000.00 and exemplary damages of PhP 50,000.00.

Student case resolution

On November 10, 2004 the Regional Trial Court dismissed the case against 48 students and granted the students' motion to discontinue the proceedings after getting assurance from the school administration that they can continue with their studies. The students were ordered dismissed by school management October 4, 2004 for holding a protest rally in front of the school.

The students were dismissed from the school by the area director, school director and the school's disciplinary board after they held a protest rally in front of the school campus without the necessary permit. They said that the dismissal of the students was based on a resolution dated October 9 issued by Student Disciplinary Tribunal, which states that holding of rallies or any related activities without the necessary permit from an authorized school officer is a major offense that merits dismissal as provided for in the student handbook.

The students filed a 13-page civil suit with damages against the school for dismissing them. They also claimed their dismissal was null and void and violates their freedom of expression as enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. They said they held the rally to show support for the preventive suspension of several regular teachers, the implementation of the webcast teaching system and other unresolved issues regarding miscellaneous fees.

The students were accompanied by police authorities in going back to school.

Daniel Padilla PBA D-League issue

Daniel Padilla, a local actor, signed as AMA University's fifth advertisement endorser. AMA then joined as an expansion basketball team to the 2014-2015 season of the PBA Developmental League and Padilla was selected by AMA as its final round draft pick. Many spectators in the draft event at the PBA head office in Libis, Quezon City were surprised with the selection as Padilla was not part of the 153 players who submitted their application for the draft. AMA invoked its right as a school-based team to sign a player who hasn't applied for the draft.

Padilla's professional handler, ABS-CBN's Star Magic denied reports Padilla was allowed to join the league and it was done without their prior knowledge. AMA claimed that Padilla was enrolled by the university as a freshman for the course Information Technology. Padilla responded to news reporters and stated that it was much of his surprise that he was drafted without his prior knowledge and declined to join the basketball league.

Undergraduate programs

Basic education programs

AMA Computer University also has pre-school, elementary, and high school programs under the brand St. Augustine International School.

AMA Computer University Town

The AMA Education Group is planning a campus named University Town. Expected to be completed in celebration of its 35th year, the AMA Computer University Town is a 50-hectare property in Ara Vista Village in General Trias, Cavite It draws its inspiration from old universities in the western world that spurred rapid development in the Host Township.

The University Town will serve as another type of multi-use development, a primary institutional complex in a park-like setting. A network of open space and walkable distances from once destination to the other is laid out to encourage users to walk instead of using vehicles.

Sister schools

The AMA Education system has sister schools. Unlike the Quezon City campus, whose land is wholly owned, some of the campuses are on rented real estate. The campuses are overseen and monitored by government departments, such Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Maritime and Naval Agency (MARINA), for Norwegian Maritime Institute. Student population mainly determine the longevity of the campuses. Only the main campus of AMA, in Project 8, is accredited with a University status; all else are under study for proper accreditation.

Pursuant to TESDA compliance, the school offers ladderized education as well, a program that allows vocational students to pursue college easily, having their previous vocational course merits credited into their college curriculum.

Notable alumni