Courses Offered
The Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management prepares students for a successful career in the Tourism Industry. The new program curriculum was designed to develop the values, competencies, discipline and spirit of service in the context of our country’s rich multi-cultural heritage and within the framework of the multi-dimensional global community as well.
The special feature of the program is the two level hands-on training that exposes our students to the diverse Tourism industry with help from our partners: hotels, transportation and travel management companies. The school also has partnered with the Department of Tourism and other government offices for students’ practicum. This is to produce immediately employable graduates who are qualified to render professional services to the various sectors of the industry.
The program received Level 1 status by The Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) on February 3, 2016.
PWU’s Master of Science in Tourism Management (MSTM) has the distinction of being the first Higher Educational Institution (HEI) in the country offering a masters degree which is wholly dedicated to the planning, development and management of the Tourism Industry. Other HEIs have their masters program diffused with courses in the hospitality sector, thus, defeating the purpose of achieving a higher goal of upgrading the professional knowledge, skills, and competencies in the sustainable development of the Philippine Tourism industry.
Through the years, PWU’s MSTM program has been producing qualified alumni who became tourism professionals working in the different sectors of the tourism industry: government, private entities, and the academe.
Career Opportunities include the following:
- Airline Sector – Flight attendant, Marketing Officer, Sales Manager, Lounge Receptionist/Information Officer, Passenger Service Representative, Ticketing Clerk, Aircraft Log Clerk, Airport Attendant, Flight Information Expeditor
- Travel Agency/Tour Operation Sector – Tourist Guide, Travel Manager/Agent, Product Developer, Travel Information Center Supervisor, Tourism Information Assistant, Marketing Officer, Liaison Officer
- Hotel Sector – Accounts Executive, Events Planner, Front Office Staff, Sales Representative, Marketing Oficer, Liaison Officer, Researcher and Developer.
- Cruise Industry – Cruise Line Director, Documentation Officer/Supervisor, Chief Steward/Stewardess, Social Director, Booking Supervisor, Events Planner
- Government – Planner, Developer, Researcher, Marketing Officer, Project Development Specialist, Liaison Officer, Tourism Attaché, Training Officer
- Academe – Lecturer/Faculty, Researcher, Education/Training Administrator Consultancy
History
The School was launched on the occasion of the celebration of the 87th Anniversary of the Philippine Women’s University. The establishment of the School was in recognition of the role of tourism in the global economy, the continuous growth of international travel by impressive rates despite man-made and natural deterrents and the increasing demand for qualified manpower to satisfactorily service the changing and, often times, discriminating needs of tourists.
The operation of the School started with the offering of the Bachelor of Science in Tourism during the School Year 2006-2007 with the curriculum designed by the University. With the issuance by the Commission of the Memorandum Order No. 30 in June 2006 (otherwise known as CMO 30 series 2006) which mandated the adoption of the standard curriculum provided for in said CMO starting School Year 2007-2008, the School adapted the year-ago curriculum to that which was prescribed in the CMO and renamed the Program as the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management (BSTM). The new Program was in consonance with Executive Order No. 358 of 2004, institutionalizing a ladderized interface between technical vocational education and training (TVET) and higher education (HEI).
To promote the School and communicate to its public its deep commitment towards cultural and natural protection and preservation, to ensure sustainable development not only of the tourism industry but, more importantly, the economy at large, it established in July 2006 the Helena Z Benitez Global Forum on Sustainable Development. The Forum aims to provide a platform for the advancement of sustainable development and the sharing of ideas and experiences among the industry stakeholders, the academic community, and related sectors</p
Between September 2006 and July 2008, the School had organized and conducted the following fora:
- Ecotorism for Sustainable Development – September 15, 2006
- Tourism and Culture: In/Imperfect Harmony – November 24, 2006
- The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism – July 27, 2007
- 2007 World Tourism Day: Tourism Opens Doors for Women – November 21, 2007
- Climate Change and Tourism Responding to the Challenges – July 25, 2008
The above fora were held in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Philippine Tourism Authority via technical and financial assistance.
Additionally, the School has held Annual Tourism Week Activities to celebrate either the World Tourism Day on September 27 of the Year, or the Tourism Week every 3rd Week of September as declared by the President Corazon C. Aquino during her administration.
The first dean was Dr. Evelyn B. Pantig who occupied the position from SY 2006-2007 thru SY 2008-2009. She was the former Undersecretary of Tourism while simultaneously serving the National Government as Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. She is a holder of Master of Business Administration from the De La Salle University, a doctorate degree in Business Management from the PWU, and units in PhD in Economics from the University of Sto. Tomas and University of the Philippines. She was also at one time the Chair of CHED’s Technical Panel on Business Management Education (TPBME). She left the University at the close of SY 2008-2009. The School was then taken over by the Dean of the School of Hospitality Management, Dr. Milagros Magsanoc, up to SY 2011-2012 upon her retirement. Dr. Ligaya Braganza then handled the School in SY 2012-2013 in her role as Divisional Dean of the Cluster on Tourism, Hotel and Restaurant and Food Technology until Dr. Pantig came back to the School to resume its deanship.
By virtue of PWU’s having been accorded an autonomous status by CHED in 2008, the School of Tourism was allowed to establish its Graduate School pursuant to the University’s Verticalization Program. The School structured its Masters of Science in Tourism Management (MSTM) Program as early as 2007 and started running it in SY 2009-2010. It produced its first set of graduates in SY 2011-2012, some of whom have since constituted the pool of BSTM faculty, commencing SY 2012-2013.
Full-Time Faculty
Dr. Ephraimuel Jose L. Abellana
Mabel Liza J. Cagadoc
Josephine M. Soliman
Angelo Chrisopher B. Agcaoli
Part-Time Faculty
Executive Chef Juanito V. Victoriano
Dr. Azucena Palugna
Noven V. Santos
Message from the Dean
Dr. Ephraimuel Jose L. Abellana
Awesome Patriots, Welcome!
In this School Year 2022-2023, I am honored and delighted to greet our passionate students and outstanding academic faculty members. Since the pandemic impacted the entire tourism industry’s activities, human resource engagements, day-to-day activities, and the livelihood of so many people throughout the world, it is with great joy and excitement that we begin this academic year full of hopes and actions. We were able to recover thanks to the optimistic outlook and perseverance of world citizens, and we are now equally prepared to meet new challenges and pursue our aspirations. Moving ahead for the fresh start of tomorrow, we continue to value the lessons learned and challenges faced during the past 29 months, and we never cease celebrating positivity and ongoing excellent outcomes in all challenges.
And as we celebrate, the United Nations’ World Tourism Organization’s 2022 global theme, “RETHINKING TOURISM,” is extremely important to the industry, to initiatives on sustainability in the public and private sectors, to talent and human resource management, to future alumni work and life balance in academia, and to tourism-related activities. All parties involved in the tourism industry anticipate the industry’s rapid change and recovery to move forward and plan what is best for the sector, which is one of the largest in the world and is the most in-demand for both tourists and locals who are involved in reciprocal business relationships and support. For us Filipinos, RETHINKING TOURISM is a continual process that involves looking back, learning new lessons, and achieving our life goals to have a better, more forward-thinking, yet insightful journey in the years to come following this health crisis.
PWU School of Tourism is committed to producing great, patriotic, and responsive graduates who will flourish in today’s world and beyond. We help our graduates in all of life’s problems. This is true for the trailblazing graduates of the School of Tourism who have been trained with strong character to be unwavering in their pursuit of excellence and who achieved their academic degrees with aspirations and prayers. I implore you to always go forward and recognize the beauty of the tourist business of the future, where a bright future awaits you and your family’s aspirations. I am with you always in this now normal academic journey!
Mabuhay, TURISMO!