National University (NU) expects its student population to reach 100,000 by 2027 as the school pivots to building larger campuses nationwide, according to NU chairman Hans Sy.
The original goal of reaching 100,000 students was set for 2028, but the university has accelerated its timeline by a year.
NU, which currently serves more than 83,000 students across 14 campuses, has revised its expansion strategy to construct schools with greater capacity.
“Our original plan was 20 campuses by 2028 with 100,000 students. But at the rate we’re going, we’re only 14 so far. By 2027, we will be 16 and we will hit 100,000,” Sy told reporters on the sidelines of a Management Association of the Philippines conference where he was awarded Management Person of the Year.
Sy said the new campus design increases enrollment capacity. “Originally, our capacity was 8,000 per campus. Right now, we have 12,000 to 20,000 students per school. That’s why, now we’re putting up a new campuses,” he said.
The university, which was acquired by the SM Group in 2008, plans to open new campuses in areas where its parent company, SM Prime, operates major malls.
