Urdaneta city: The SM City Urdaneta Central broke ground on a new 10-story building for the National University (NU) within the mall’s compound. The project, which began on Monday, marks a significant development for the region’s educational landscape.
According to Philippines News Agency, mall manager Abraham Malicdem shared details about the new university, which will span approximately 3,200 square meters. The facility is set to include a modern library, lounge areas, and an elevator. Designed to initially accommodate 2,000 freshmen, it aims to expand its capacity to host between 6,000 and 7,000 students in the future.
Malicdem indicated that the project is slated for completion by July or August 2028. While specific courses have yet to be announced, the university plans to offer programs in business, informatics, accounting, robotics, and other scientific disciplines. Scholarship information is available on the SM Foundation website, smfoundation.org.
Prospective students will need to take an entrance exam, with dates to be announced on social media and the university’s website. The groundbreaking event also featured a showcase of 2,500 pastry products from local micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs, which were distributed for free to mallgoers.