Northwestern University

Northwestern University believes that every person is created in the image of God, hence has the capacity for excellence attained through Knowledge, Virtue, and the Democratic Principles of freedom, truth, justice, and equality.NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY is dedicated to developing individuals to become highly Competent, Socially Responsible and Morally Upright Leaders.Northwestern University envisions itself to be a premier institution of learning in Asia committed to Excellence and Ethical Formation for Global Relevance.

Way back in 1932, an enterprising group of educators composed of Angel Albano, Cresencio Barangan, Maximo Caday, Manuela Romero, Rufina Mariano and Nicolas Nicolas pooled their hard-earned savings to put up and incorporate the first private non-sectarian educational institution in Ilocos Norte known as the Northwestern Academy.

Simultaneous National Tree Planting for the opening of the National Cooperative Month Celebration was conducted last October 01, 2011 as part of the Cooperative Month Celebration.The sub-theme for this year’s celebration “Kooperatiba: Sama-sama sa Pagkandili ng Kalikasan” is anchored on the theme of the International Year of Cooperative (IYC) “Transformative Cooperative Advancing People, Planet, Prosperity and Peace”. During the regular meeting of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Cooperative Development Council (PCDC) wherein NWU is a regular member last September 15,2011, Northwestern University -Integrated Agriculture Development (IAD) area in Brgy. Sta Maria, Piddig, Ilocos Norte was chosen as the site of the activity.

More than 100 participants coming from National Government Agencies (NGA), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Financial Institutions, Primary Cooperatives, Cooperative Union of Ilocos Norte (CUIN), students from MMSU taking up Cooperative Management Course and MBA, a representative from the Local Government Units (LGUs), NWU MPC and employees from NWU attended the planting activity.

The Northwestern University Ecotourism Park and Botanic Garden is a place where you can experience nature’s beauty and splendor and enjoy the touch of Ilocano Hospitality and Ingenuity. A place never been expected to become paradise of Philippine indigenous flora and fauna… the first colossal park ever established in the Northern Luzon.The Establishment of Ecotourism Park and Botanic Garden was based on a policy of achieving harmony between resource protection and public use.It is consumptive because of the integration of Agricultural produce, exotic restaurant, processed goods and research products. At the same time non-consumptive for it offers recreational activities that are closely linked to natural history and wildlife, such as bird watching, butterfly watching, nature photography, botanical study, mountain biking, hiking and other recreations like camping and training.

The Ecotourism Park is unique in possessing wide range of eye-catching natural features, an advantage over other conventional tourism parks. The Park emphasizes on nature’s flora and wildlife which distinguishes it from other tourist destinations in the Ilocos Province.The operation of the school was interrupted in 1945-1948 with the outbreak of World War II. Upon resumption, a 12 room building, the first it can call its own was constructed to accommodate the influx of students. In 1949, the academy became Northwestern College with Apolinario Aquino as President. Opening of new courses followed namely Associate in Surveying, Bachelor of Laws, BS Commerce, Technical Engineering, Industrial Education, Master of Arts in Education, BS Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.The purchase of a nine-hectare lot and the construction of the Science and Engineering building were landmarks in the institutions growth and progress. With the acquisition of the lot, the dream of the incorporators for the institution to becomea university began to take shape. The College continued to offer more programs.

Research and Community Extension became the priority thrusts in SY 1998-1999. The University Center for Research was put up.In 2002, government recognition to offer BS in Medical Technology was issued. In 2003, BS in Industrial Engineering and MS Management Engineering programs were given government recognition. A year after, permit to operate programs leading to the degree in BS Radiologic Technology and BS Environmental Studies were granted.At the threshold of the 21 st century NWU applied and subjected itself to an international auditing agency, the Anglo-Japanese American (AJA) Registrars Inc. Having met the stringent requirements, NWU holds the distinction of being the first educational institution in the province to be granted International Standard Organization) ISO-9001/1994 certificate and later granted ISO 9001-2000 certificate.

A major achievement of great significance was the grant of Deregulated Status to the university by the Commission on Higher Education in 2003. It was also in the same year that it forged an international sisterhood relationship with Sangmyung University, Korea.In 2004, a 35,000 sq. meter lot in Payas, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte and a 14,633 sq. meter lot in Nalbo, Laoag City were acquired that will serve as the future site of the Research and Community Extension Center. A Worship Center and the Alumni House were also constructed in the same year which are indications of Northwestern University s unrelenting efforts in expanding and strengthening its services.From humble beginnings, Northwestern University has today emerged as a leading and progressive institution of learning in Laoag City and Ilocos Norte. It is committed to provide a learning environment geared towards excellence and thus prepare students to be world-class citizens.