Manila, Philippines STI Education Systems Holdings, Inc. (PSE Code: STI) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Agustin Family for the purchase of the controlling stake in West Negros University ( WNU ) located in Bacolod City. The purchase of the WNU is conditional upon the completion of a financial, legal, academic and tax due diligence audit and will implement the strategy of STI Holdings to expand its business in the education field.
Last year, STI Holdings acquired a substantial stake in Philippine Womens University (PWU), a legacy institution that is celebrating its centennial decade.
The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Monico V. Jacob, on behalf of STI Holdings; Dr. Suzette Lilian A, Agustin, President of WNU; and V-2 Agustin, a major shareholder.
WNU is recognized as one of the biggest universities in Negros Occidental and in Bacolod City with an enrolment record of 9,000 students for school year 2012-2013.
The university is also an accredited school by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities-Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) for several of its colleges.
The 65-year old school boasts of impressive national rankings and recognitions from the PACUCOA as an institution with the highest number of accredited programs in Western Visayas. Its eight colleges the College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Criminal Justice Education, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Management, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, College of Maritime Studies, and College of Information Technology offers 28 associate and bachelors degree programs.
WNU also has a School of Graduate Studies with masteral programs in Education, Public Administration,Nursing and English, as well as doctorate programs in Educational Management and Public Administration.
The school also offers high school, elementary and pre-school.
Present during the signing are (L-R)V-2 Agustin, a major sharholder of WNU; Dr. Suzette Lilian A. Agustin, President of WNU; Mr. Eusebio H. Tanco; and Mr. Monico V. Jacob, President and CEO of STI Holdings.