Aldersgate College was founded in 1965 by pioneering Methodist lay leaders Mrs. Pilar D. Galima and Mr. Froilan B. Calata. The school was named Aldersgate, after the street in London where John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, felt his heart strangely warmed and realized that Salvation, which he believed could be attained through Wisdom and Piety, can only be finally achieved by the Grace of God through faith in Christ.
The experience of Aldersgate Street was the inspiration of this College, that whosoever passes through its portals comes out transformed: morally upright and spiritually awakened – a brave and sagacious leader, with an enlightened mind, a compassionate heart, and able and ready hands.
Aldersgate started as a Junior College offering Secretarial, Liberal Arts and Education courses, along with two laboratory schools offering elementary and secondary courses. While Aldersgate began in 1965 as a church school under the jurisdiction of the Northern Philippines Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, it was incorporated in 1970 while starting to send out its first batch of graduates.
In its early and most critical years, the faith and dedication of the following administrators merit special mention: Dana K. Tyson, the first Executive Dean (1965-70); Bishop Benjamin A. Justo, the first Director (1978-80); Rev. Thelma L. Case (1980-81) and Eduardo G. Magalued, Officer-in-Charge (1981-September, 1982);
Thereafter, Junifen F. Gauuan, Ph.D. served for almost 32 years: as Director, starting October 1982; then as the first College President starting from 1990, until May 31, 2014. He assumed the Presidency of Philippine Christian University in June 2014. With his innovative leadership and vast resource linkages, he jumpstarted rapid expansion in academic programs, research, extension, and infrastructure. Under his watch, educational systems and resources for blended and pure online instruction were created; and an array of international education and resource development partnerships were achieved. He assumed the Presidency of Philippine Christian University on June, 2014.
On June 26, 2015, Dr. Prescilla Esperanza A. Soriano was installed as the second President of the College. She brings with her expertise gained as a member of various professional organizations such as the National Association for Early Childhood Education, Philippine Association for Teacher Education, Philippine Association for Graduate Education, World Council for Curriculum and Instruction as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church, the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church that supports contextual chaplaincy leadership training in specialized settings. She is also an implementer of the Learning through Play Program (LTP) of the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada having attended specialized training in Toronto and Tamil Nadu in India. Fortified by her life experiences as a mother, wife, grandmother, educator, and church leader and guided by her chosen life verse, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31),” she leads with a heart enabling her to inspire people toward the common vision of producing graduates grounded in the core values of academic excellence, social relevance and spiritual nurturance set out by the College.
Rev. Micah Ryan B. Ramel, Ph.D. took his oath of office as the third President of Aldersgate College, Inc., on October 01, 2022. Prior to heeding the call to lead his Alma Mater, he served in both private and public higher education institutions’ formal and alternative education, research, extension & training, youth & campus ministry, and agri-entrepreneurship programs, with significant management experiences of TVET in Ladderized Education Programs (LEPs), the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), and Transnational Education (TNE). He is a staunch advocate of the bridging leadership framework, rights-based approach to development, and of open and distance e-learning projects for marginalized communities, being significantly influenced by the ministry as Local Pastor to UMC congregations since 2001, his accreditation as a Bridging Leadership Trainer from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Center for Bridging Societal Divides in 2009, and as Lead Researcher Author & Speaker for the publication Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women as Prime Movers of Inclusive business in 2018. While his academic preparation is primarily in the field of business, culminating in a Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce (With Distinction), he also earned masters degrees in public administration and divinity, and completed the academic requirements for the UP Open University Master in Distance in Education Program, which he exited with a Graduate Certificate in Distance Education. He holds the rank of Lt. Col. In the AFPRESCOM Corps of Professors.
Today, Aldersgate College continues to evolve as one of the respected and a sought-after brand for excellent academic programs intended for working professionals, thru the Graduate School of Management and Education, and the Aldersgate Divinity School.
There are four(4) undergraduate degree programs operated by the College of Business, Management and Accountancy (CBMA); (1) School of Criminology (SOC); (2) School of Medical Sciences (SMS); (3) College of Engineering (COE); (4) College of Arts, Sciences, Education, and Information Technology (CASEIT).
The Basic Education programs are handled by four departments, namely: Pre-School (PS), Elementary School (ES), Junior Science High School (JSHS), and Senior High School (SHS). Moreover, Technical Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) Courses are managed by the TecVoc Center.
The Graduate Programs, Arts and Sciences, Education, Accountancy and Business, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Nursing and the Junior High School and Elementary School are now accredited by the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities Accrediting Council, Inc. (ACSCU-ACI), as certified by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies in the Philippines (FAAP).
© Aldersgate College Incorporated 2024