University of the Visayas

What University of the Visayas does

The University of the Visayas (UV) is a private, non-sectarian higher education institution headquartered in Cebu Province, Philippines, founded in 1919 by Don Vicente A. Gullas as the Visayan Institute and chartered as the first university in Cebu in 1948. The institution operates eight satellite campuses across Cebu Province and enrolls more than 20,000 students, making it one of the larger private university operators in the Visayas region. It remains under Gullas family control, with Gerald Anthony S. Gullas serving as Chairman, providing governance continuity typical of multi-generational Filipino educational institutions. UV holds CHED Autonomous and Deregulated Status and PACUCOA Level IV accreditation (the highest in Region VII), and it is ISO 9001:2015 certified while pursuing ISO 21001:2018.

UV delivers education through eight colleges spanning Allied Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Criminal Justice Education, Education, Engineering/Technology/Architecture, Maritime, and Law. Recent curriculum additions include BS Applied AI and BS Cybersecurity degree programs, plus TESDA diploma programs in AI, Cybersecurity, and Hospitality delivered in partnership with East West. International engagement extends across Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Spain, and Hawaii, supplemented by EU-funded benchmarking initiatives in France and Hungary. Adjacent institutional activities include a PCA- and DMW-partnered mobile healthcare program for rural Cebu communities.

Revenue is tuition-driven, with supplementary income from TESDA micro-credentialing, partnership training, and ancillary service programs. The institution runs roughly 251-500 employees and operates a high-volume, multi-campus model with concentrated geographic exposure to Cebu Province. The combination of regulatory autonomy, long-tenured brand, broad college portfolio, and emerging tech-aligned programs defines UV as a regionally dominant legacy private university in mid-life modernization — pivoting its curriculum toward AI, cybersecurity, and international articulation while retaining its traditional multi-college structure.

Name

University of the Visayas

Legal name

University of the Visayas Inc.

Website

https://uv.edu.ph

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Private non-sectarian university in Cebu Province, Philippines, founded in 1919, operating eight satellite campuses with 20,000+ students across eight colleges including new programs in Applied AI and Cybersecurity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Junior Colleges (61121), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Branch/Partner Community Colleges (EDAHADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Immigration Status Maintenance & Reporting Support (EDAIADAG), Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL), Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Tertiary education
• Basic education
• Graduate studies
• Professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cebu

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate program tuition, including special term and summer classes. Revenue varies by program level and course load.
2. TESDA Certification Programs: Revenue from vocational training programs leading to national certifications in areas like Cookery NC II, Housekeeping NC II, Bread & Pastry Production NC II, and Tourism Services NC II
3. ETEEAP (Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program): Alternative learning system allowing students to earn college degrees through prior learning assessment
4. Certificate Programs: Professional certification programs including HR certifications, financial markets certifications, and AI certifications offered for additional fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

University of the Visayas is a private non-sectarian university in Cebu, Philippines offering basic education, undergraduate, graduate, and certificate-level programs across multiple colleges including law, engineering, medicine, communication, management, and accountancy. The institution delivers classroom-based degree and non-degree instruction to students, supported by satellite campuses and a learning management system.

Product overview

University of the Visayas is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic products across multiple levels: Basic Education (Grade School to Senior High School with Academic and TVL tracks), Undergraduate Programs across 8 colleges (Allied Health Sciences, Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Criminal Justice Education, Education, Engineering/Technology/Architecture, Maritime, Law), Graduate Programs (Master's, Doctorate, and PhD degrees), and Certificate/TESDA Programs. The institution operates its own Learning Management System (Blackboard-based UV-LMS) and Student Portal (SERP) for academic delivery. Key product differentiators include specialized programs in Applied AI and Cybersecurity, a Capital Markets Trading Laboratory with TradingView, and partnerships with Altair for engineering simulation technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Visayanian Publication: Official student publication established in 1932, featuring news, features, and campus stories.
• Green Lancers Publication

Products and services

• Basic Education Program K-12 foundational education for school-aged students, leading to completion of basic education requirements.
• Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs across engineering, communication, management, accountancy, and other disciplines for high school graduates.
• Graduate Degree Programs Master's and doctoral-level academic programs for post-baccalaureate students.
• Juris Doctor (Law) Program Professional law degree program preparing students for the Philippine Bar.
• Doctor of Medicine Program Medical doctor degree program with clinical training for aspiring physicians.
• Engineering Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs in engineering disciplines through the College of Engineering.
• Certificate and Short Courses Non-degree certificate and short-course programs for professional and skills-based training.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93.10% passing rate in February 2026 Nursing Licensure Exams
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Hawai'icoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026UV and University of Hawai'i formalized a three-year academic collaboration partnership advancing research, conferences, professional development, and international academic engagement for students and faculty.
• Taiwan PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026UV expanded Taiwan internship scholarship mobility opportunities program, discussing internships, scholarships, workforce mobility, and academic pathways for students and graduates.
• Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026UV and PCA launch partnership providing accessible mobile healthcare services for coconut farmers and underserved rural communities nationwide.
• Cebu Provincial GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026UV executives met Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro presenting partnership proposals for leadership training, health initiatives, and student internship pathways.
• Department of Migrant Workers (DMW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026UV and DMW Region VII signed an agreement to protect graduates from illegal recruitment, providing pre-employment guidance for safe overseas work.
• East WestminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026UV and East West partnered to offer TESDA-approved micro-credential programs supporting workforce development, skills enhancement, and lifelong learning in emerging technology fields.
• People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025UV and PMAP sealed a partnership to launch a DHRM program with MBA articulation starting 2026.
• Middlesex UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025UV and Middlesex University formalized collaboration through a Memorandum of Intent, expanding international academic opportunities for students.
• EU-Funded Institutions (France and Hungary)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025UV delegation participated in EU-funded benchmarking visit to France and Hungary, advancing internationalization goals.
• Tongmyong University (South Korea)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025UV and Tongmyong University signed an MOU to strengthen academic collaboration and promote global learning opportunities for students.
• Philippine School DohaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025UV and Philippine School Doha renewed their five-year MOA, focusing on research, exchanges, internships, and international benchmarking.
• Torna Idioma (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025UV partners with Spain's Torna Idioma to advance joint academic programs, cultural exchange, and micro-credentialing.
• PTA-BminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025UV and PTA-B renewed their academic partnership for another three years, reinforcing research, faculty development, and collaborative educational programs.
• Shu-Te University (Taiwan)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025UV partners with Taiwan's Shu-Te University to advance IT education through program benchmarking and academic exchange.
• PCCRminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025UV and PCCR signed an MOU to promote academic collaboration and strengthen inter-institutional ties.
• Ryokan Tamagoyu (Japan)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025UV secured Japan-based cultural internship for eight Visayanian students through MOA with Ryokan Tamagoyu.
• AltaircoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2023Partnership with Altair, a renowned global technology firm specializing in engineering simulation and product development. This groundbreaking alliance is unique in the Philippines and elevates UV's College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture to new heights.
• KILSA Global PhilippinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023UV-CAHS partnered with KILSA Global Philippines to launch the International Nurses Onboarding Program (INOP), a scholarship program offering pathways to professional growth and international experience in Singapore.
• Commission on Higher Education (CHED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHED is the regulatory body overseeing higher education in the Philippines. UV maintains active partnerships with CHED for various academic programs and initiatives including ETEEAP.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cebu Institute of Technology - University: A Cebu-based private university with strong engineering, computing, and technology programs across multiple campuses. CIT-U is a direct peer to UV in the Cebu private university market, with similar mid-tier positioning, comparable enrollment scale, and overlapping engineering/IT offerings.
• University of San Jose-Recoletos: A Cebu-based private Catholic university operated by the Augustinian Recollects with multiple campuses in Cebu City. USJ-R is a direct peer to UV, competing for the same Cebu student population across undergraduate and graduate programs in education, business, and liberal arts.
• Saint Theresa's College of Cebu: A Cebu-based private Catholic institution with strong programs in education, business, and liberal arts plus basic education offerings. STC is a direct peer to UV in the Cebu private education market, particularly in teacher education, basic education, and women's professional programs.
• University of San Carlos: Founded in 1595, USC is Cebu's oldest and largest private Catholic university with multiple campuses across the city. It is the most direct competitor to UV in the Cebu private university market, offering comparable undergraduate and graduate programs across similar disciplines and competing for the same regional student pool.
• Southwestern University: A Cebu-based private university with multiple colleges including medicine, dentistry, engineering, and graduate studies. SWU is a direct peer to UV with comparable multi-campus private university operations in Cebu and overlapping health sciences and business programs.

Regional players

• University of the Philippines Cebu: A regional satellite campus of the University of the Philippines national public university system, located in Cebu City. UP Cebu is a regional peer to UV, competing for the same Cebu student population and faculty talent, but operating as part of the public university system with different tuition economics and prestige positioning.

Emerging players

• AMA University: A Philippine private university system with a strong focus on computing, IT, and technology programs across multiple campuses nationwide. AMA is an emerging peer comparable to UV's tech-forward BS in Applied AI and BS in Cybersecurity programs, with similar multi-campus Philippine private university operations and a digitally-oriented student base.

Broad incumbents

• Ateneo de Manila University: A leading private Jesuit university in the Philippines with a national brand and Loyola Heights campus in Quezon City. Ateneo is a broad incumbent comparable to UV in private Catholic-affiliated university status but with significantly larger scale, premium positioning, and broader graduate and professional program offerings.
• De La Salle University: One of the largest and most prestigious private universities in the Philippines, based in Manila with multiple campuses and a national brand. DLSU is a broad incumbent comparable to UV in private university status but with significantly larger scale, premium positioning, and a broader program portfolio across disciplines.
• University of Santo Tomas: The oldest existing university in Asia, founded in 1611, and one of the Philippines' largest private universities with comprehensive undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. UST is a broad incumbent comparable to UV in private university status and Catholic heritage but with significantly larger national scale and brand reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/universityofthevisayascebu
• Xx.com/UVisayas_edu

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of the Visayas