We are confident that, given our faculty members’ cutting-edge knowledge derived from both their research and industry experience, we will be able to expose our students to the latest trends, strategies, and innovations in the business world.
Recently released university rankings have affirmed De La Salle University’s standing as one of the premier universities in the Philippines. In the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) subject rankings, DLSU emerged as the country’s top-ranked university in the fields of Arts and Humanities (601+), Business and Economics (801+), Education Studies (401-500), Psychology (401-500), and Social Sciences (801-1000). In the overall rankings, DLSU ranked third, behind Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and the University of the Philippines (UP).
In the area of Business and Management, DLSU is among the leading business schools in the country. According to EduRank, DLSU ranked highest in terms of its research performance in business (#527 in Asia), followed by UP (#627 in Asia), UP Los Banos (#801 in Asia), University of Santo Tomas (#894 in Asia), and the Asian Institute of Management (#943 in Asia).
University rankings, however, while indicative of the quality of education of higher education institutions (HEIs), must not distract universities from pursuing their avowed educational missions. In the case of the DLSU Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, we take seriously our mission as a business school: “Guided by the Lasallian values of faith, service, and communion in mission, we nurture business leaders who influence policymaking, improve business and management practices, and empower communities.”
We are especially proud of our regular MBA Program, which has produced tens and thousands of graduates that now hold important leadership / managerial positions not only in business and industry but also in government, academia, and civil society. Our graduates have benefitted from developing their leadership qualities, decision-making, and strategic thinking skills. They have acquired the tools and competencies needed to manage teams, navigate complex business challenges, and drive organizational growth. Many of our graduates, because of their robust understanding of business functions such as finance, human resource management, marketing, and operations have also been trusted with higher-level positions, which bring with them competitive compensation and benefits.
This year, we have decided to expand our reach by offering the Executive MBA Program (EMBA) at our DLSU Laguna Campus. Just like our regular MBA Program, the EMBA seeks to develop capable and socially responsible managers for modern Philippine enterprises. What makes the EMBA distinct is that it is open only to those who are already in middle management or senior management positions in their respective organizations. We envision the EMBA to include a cohort of about 15 students per batch, particularly those coming from select companies located in the Laguna Technopark or in the nearby commercial districts.
Moreover, EMBA students will be able to earn their degree in a much shorter period. Students will undergo an intensive hybrid program, which includes face-to-face sessions held on Saturdays combined with asynchronous online sessions on weekdays over a period of 5 trimesters (as opposed to 8 to 9 trimesters for students enrolled in the regular MBA program). EMBA classes will be held in the new Enrique K. Razon Hall, which features state-of-the-art spaces, a learning commons, a collaborative lecture hall, student services, modern classrooms, and a function hall – all of which were designed to inspire collaborative activity and innovation.
Among the unique features of our EMBA Program are the importance it gives to business ethics, its service-learning component, and its action research capstone project.
Guided by the RVRCOB Code of Ethics, we call on our students to treat others with respect and dignity, to preserve the environment, to offer socially positive products and services, to avoid conflicts of interest, and to be transparent in reporting company performance.
We also encourage our students to set their sights beyond the companies that they work for through an innovative pedagogy called service learning. Through a service-learning project undertaken during their Lasallian Business Leadership course, our students render service hours with a partner organization focused on social concerns.
Finally, through their action research capstone project, our students collaborate with their colleagues at work to confront real and important organizational problems. Guided by their advisers, they plan and carry out needed changes in their respective companies. After which, they evaluate the outcomes of their change efforts and reflect on how they have personally and professionally developed from having worked on the project.
We are confident that, given our faculty members’ cutting-edge knowledge derived from both their research and industry experience, we will be able to expose our students to the latest trends, strategies, and innovations in the business world. Moreover, our years of experience effectively using online learning platforms, coupled with tried-and-tested face-to-face learning methods, will enable our students to be equally adaptable in their own managerial practices in a world where flexible work arrangements are slowly becoming the norm.
Raymund B. Habaradas is Full Professor at the Department of Management and Organization of De La Salle University (DLSU). He can be reached at rbhabaradas@yahoo.com or at raymund.habaradas@dlsu.edu.ph.
The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.