Introduction

De La Salle University is a non-stock incorporation. It is not owned by directors but is owned

by the La Salle Brothers. De La Salle University is headed by a 15-person board of trustees. The

current chairman of the board of trustees is Mr. Jose T. Pardo.

“DLSU belongs to the top 500 educational institutions in the world, the best Philippine

private university, based on research quality, graduate employability, international

outlook and teaching quality. This is according to the London-based Times Higher

Education Supplement as evaluated by peers, faculty, job recruiters and international

students. In 2000, DLSU-Manila was ranked number 71 among the universities in Asia

for academic reputation, student selectivity, faculty and financial resources, citations in

international journals, and internet bandwidth.” (De La Salle University, n. d.)

De La Salle University is a member of De La Salle Philippines. It is the oldest member

of the 17 members in DLSP.

An educational institution is mainly concerned with educating people. The school’s rank

is also important since it will affect the number of enrollees for the following year and it is

important to provide quality education to the students since that is its goal as an educational

institution. Moreover, there are several other educational institutions which serve as competitors

for each school.

In an educational institution, it is important to have good standards just as mentioned above.

This is achieved by having quality education and providing good academic environments to

students. Having up-to-date libraries, facilities and other educational tools such as projectors,

computers, etc. are essential in providing quality education and giving the students good academic

environment.

However, educational institutions are still under the influence of its environment. These

include the political or legal factors, economical factors, sociocultural factors and technological

factors. These are macro environmental factors that affect all entities. There are also firms’ task

environments that influence their companies.

Macro Environmental Analysis

POLITICAL AND LEGAL FACTORS

Politics has a big influence on educational institutions and he Commission on Higher

Education or CHED sets the standards of what should be taught in school. A good example would be

the difference of our need for education during the time of the Spaniards. Since Indios were not

allowed to study, the people enrolled in educational institutions are only the peninsulares, the

insulares and the prinncipales. In other words, only the Spaniards born in Spain, Spaniards born in the

colonies and the rich Filipinos are able to study.

During the time of the Americans, there was a shift on the education of the Filipinos. The

Americans built schools mainly for the Filipinos to learn the English language. At this time,

educational institutions were built and many Filipinos are able to learn but are unable to fully

understand the foreign language being taught.

During the Japanese rule, we were able to learn our own language in addition to Nihonggo.

However, due to the strict adherence to grammar, people became uninterested to our own language.

More people did not want to study.

After the constant disputed about having Tagalog as the National language, the government

was able to integrate all existing language into the Filipino language.

As we can see, the changes in the government disrupt the flow of students enrolling in

educational institutions. During the Spanish period, only the rich and the Spaniards are able to enroll in

educational institutions. Moreover, there are only few educational institutions at this time. When the

Americans arrived, there was a change. Education became a priority and many competitors arose. Also,

due to the fact that all subjects are required to be taught in English, the faculty was mainly Americans

soldiers. All Filipinos were required to study under the American rule. By the time of the Japanese,

Tagalog and Nihonggo became the main language used in education. Again, there is a shift in the

educational system due to the arrival of a new government. With this, we can see the importance of

politics in all educational institutions.

ECONOMIC FACTORS

It is important for universities in the country to see what types of students to cater to and

what the literacy rate in the entire country is. Here is a table of the literacy rates as of year 2000:

According to international statistics the Philippines is one of the highest in literacy rates in Asia

with Japan as first rank and South Korea as second. This shows that the education system is structured

and can cater to majority of the population. The only problem is poverty in the country so not many

people can afford to continue their education until college, which is high in demand for many Filipino

parents and students, but fortunately there are universities that provide scholarships to give educational

opportunities or have lower tuition fees for more people to afford for example University of the

Philippines (UP) has a lower tuition fee but has high standards to give the marginalized sector an

opportunity to get the best education to provide a better future, which is to earn a living by being able to

get employed to earn a higher income.

Universities with higher levels of education provide scholarship programs in order to cater to

students whose family’s gross annual income is below Php. 500,000 to meet the growing demand on

education in fact now there is currently a scholarship program in De La Salle University aiming to

raise two billion pesos to run the scholarship to help the 18,000 students of the university to avail

themselves on full scholarships in any of the 17 branches of the Lasallian schools across the country.

Locally DLSU is ranked 4th

in being the best universities and internationally as the 250th

. Now there

are 43 Lasallian Institutions in 16 countries showing the De La Salle University is successful in

terms of business because for a business to have multiple branches it has to provide excellent service

to its customers.

In terms of business we can say that DLSU is a very successful one because it has excellent

service to the customers which are the parents and students also aside from the multiple branches the

goals of the business are often achieved because the university’s goal is to produce successful

employees for the country or future occupants of prestige companies. It is also under the pro-

business policy because the land and organization is approved by the government and it is not

causing the environment to be in jeopardy unlike logging and tobacco sales. The marketing

strategies are also a success because it is able to communicate with companies abroad and the

atmosphere is expanded by seeking opportunities internationally which explains why there is

International Studies as a curriculum. There are also good investments and purchases in durable

goods like the desks, computers and other facilities also there are currently investments in making

new buildings in the campus as dorms or condo residences. Though there are still plenty of

equipment left to be purchased by DLSU fortunately the firms of this business are still working to

hire more employees to help out with this task also there are fundraising and donations collected to

support the business as extra funds which completes the business cycle.

In terms of GDP the Philippines had the lowest per capital GDP growth for about 30 years

which started 13 years after joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), an organization working

to open the economy globally and to meet the demands of the international standards.The GDP per

capita of the country as of 2003 was recorded to be about Php. 2,241 with the richest 20% of the

population earning 9.7 times more than the poorest 20% of the population.In 2010 the GDP was

recorded as $188.7 billion with the annual growth rate of 7.6% at constant prices and the GDP per

capita of $2,007. The GDP determines the future of the country so there is a requirement of economic

development for all business organizations. As for the university it can contribute to the GDP by

technologically developing the facilities meeting the demands of the economy for the rapid growing

rate of technology on education it order to convince students to enroll increasing the annual income of

the university.

In 2011 the tuition fee ranged from Php. 37,000 toPhp. 70,000 while in 2009 the average

graduate tuition fee ranged from $2,560 for Filipino students to US$2,610 for non-Filipino students.

Fortunately, the university is now giving discounts on the tuition fee to assist students with annual

incomes less than Php. 500,000 for an opportunity to get the best educational background leading to a

successful future like the Lasallian slogan “ Lasallian Achievers For God and Country”.

According to the recent data, “the country’s very high literacy rate apparently masks several

unfortunate facts. Filipino students are not internationally competitive in basic math and science and,

according to more recent data and some concerned quarters, in English proficiency. Educational

quality across all levels remains very uneven. Unskilled labor workers still comprise most of the

Philippine working population here and overseas; and that a significant mismatch between the labor

and education markets persist. As per the latest (2006) estimates from the Bureau of Labor and

Employment Statistics, unemployment is the highest among those with at least a year of college

education at 11.1 percent—3.2 points higher than the national average—even as the country lacks

people in a worrying number of critical, skilled professions like meteorology; underemployment is

about 20 percent, averaging 16.9 percent for college attendees.”

This is the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) by ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

showing the amount of income collected annually from international investments with the Philippines

having a decent amount collected enough to support the country as shown in the chart above. DLSU can

also contribute to this by investing more with other universities or companies for international

sponsorship to gain or funds.

Sociocultural and Environmental Factors

In line with education, the owners and leaders must consider the factors on what kind of students

that is qualified in entering their respective schools. Like for example, the location and environment

surrounding the school must be considered. The location determines on what kind of students are going

to be entering the school. Like for example, De La Salle University is located in the noisy streets of Taft

Avenue which is few minutes away from the urbanized Makati, Pasay and Mandaluyong. This

(location) is considered because most students who enters the prominent university are mostly elites and

thus, with this location, it is surely much safer and easily to be accessed unlike in the other districts of

Manila like Tondo.

Second factor that must be considered is the quality of the education and its curriculum. With the

sudden K-12 educational system, there is a high possibility of future high school graduates of entering

either to technical-vocational courses or getting a college degree. Thus, for those who are entering

universities, school curriculums by different universities must be considered.

Lastly, the media plays an important role in shaping the social values. The image of a certain

school or university, for example, is being analyzed through how it is advertised or shown by the media.

Thus, it gives an impact to the audience on what kind of school it is in general.

Technological Factors

Technology is an important factor in educational institutions. Recent innovations have become

part of our lives. These innovations became a necessity and as technology continues to evolve, there has

been a need to keep up with it. An example of this was the invention of wireless internets. People used to

be able to research fine without the need for internet. But, since information has become so accessible

due to the internet, people now want more access to the internet. Since many students are using the

internet almost 24/7, institutions are now somehow pressured to install wireless internet connections.

Also, there is an advantage. Wireless internet connections are cheaper than having to increase equipments

and facilities.

Another impact of technology on educational institutions is that they become more accessible to

future enrollees. For example, all educational institutions have websites wherein interested applicants can

make the decision of whether to apply or not. Moreover, social media has allowed the youth to get in

touch with information about the school. If current students of the educational institution post certain

issues about the school, then future applicants would also see the issues within the school.

Task Environmental Analysis

Owners

De La Salle University is a non-profit sectarian educational institution. It is owned by the De La

Salle Brothers. There are both foreign and Filipino brothers who run the university. The people who

manage the university, however, are not entirely just the brothers. Since the De La Salle Brothers are

not managers, there is a need for another group of people to govern the affairs of the school. The group

of people who manage these affairs are the board of trustees. And, according to Batas Pambansa Blg.

68, Sec. 108 - Trustees of educational institutions organized as non-stock corporations shall not be less

than five (5) nor more than fifteen (15): Provided, however, That the number of trustees shall be in

multiples of five (5). The board of trustees of DLSU is composed of 15 people and is headed by the

current chairman, Mr. Jose T. Pardo.

Competitors

As of August 2010, there are 1,573 private institutions and 607 public institutions in the

Philippines. According to CHED, there is a total of 2,080 higher education institutions. All these

institutions are competitors for DLSU. There is competition for enrollees and applicants per school

year. There are many factors in choosing a school for the enrollees. Factors such as demographics,

courses, and standards are important. Some enrollees prefer schools that are accessible from their

homes. Some would also prefer the name and status of the school in the country. Finally, there is the

course availability which is important for students in their decision for a better future.

Customers

The customers are the ones who pay for the service to be rendered by the institution. This may

either be the student or the parents of the students. In relation to the factors in choosing a school, these

customers demand quality education and a good environment to learn in. Factors such as demographics

are also important since it suggests the safety of the students. The consumers will think whether it is

safe to enroll in a school located in the slums or a reclaimed area.

Summary

Education as we all know is one of the stepping stones in order for everyone to learn values.

Thus, competitions within universities when it comes to its quality and image are being considered.

With these factors mentioned in the paper, these are determinants in choosing the right track for

education. It is known that a certain institution is a good choice if it is rule bounded (law/political

aspect), updated with modern technology for faster learning, centered in learning morals and values

while aiming for knowledge, of course, its eminence for having good education. Institutions who are

aiming for these aspects are being competitive that is why improvements within their respective

facilities is being done.

De La Salle University, therefore, is still in the midst of improving its own facilities yet known

for having such factors that were mentioned previously. In spite of it, the institution is surely

competitive enough in this education-centered business because it has proven its quality of education

that is prominent not only in the country but also internationally.

Background notes: Philippines. January 17, 2012 from Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Website:

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2794.htm

Boncan, C., Jose, M., Ong, J., Ponsaran, J. (2006). Philippine Civilization: History and Government (p.62).

Davao, Metro Manila, Cebu: Vibal Publishing House, Inc.

De La Salle University. (n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2012 from Wikipedia. Website:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_La_Salle_University

De La Salle: Beyond 100. June 20, 2012 from Business World Online. Website:

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Opinion&title=De-La-Salle:-Beyond-

100&id=538222

DLSU Establishes College of Business and School of Economics.(n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2012 from De La

Salle University, Manila. Website:

http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/offices/mco/publications/2401/20100201.pdf

Trade and Investment Issues in ASEAN Economic Integration. December 8, 2010 from De La Salle University,

Manila. Website: http://www.unescap.org/pdd/calendar/EGM2010/ppt/maustria-

tradeinvestmentASEAN.pdf

References