HomeOffice of the President

Ma. Felma Carlos-Tria, ED. D.

Dr. Ma. Felma Carlos-Tria

Message from the 16th President of Universidad de Manila

As an educational institution, Universidad de Manila (UDM) focuses on what the students need within the halls of the University, in preparation for their entry not just into the city’s and the country’s workforce, but even in the international stage. As such, quality education, responsive infrastructure, facilities and equipment, and well-developed curriculum geared towards competency and employability are crucial.

To achieve such goals that the youth of Manila deserves, we shall endeavor to put emphasis and scrutiny into key performance indicators upon which the University’s academic standing could be readily measured. The current passing rates of our students under our board courses, as well as the current employment and employability of our alumni are the best indicators as to whether or not the University is being true to its mandate and purpose as an educational institution. With these, we should be apprised of the students’ needs and the University’s shortcomings that need to be addressed. We will focus on essential goals that will put UDM on the map.

Clear and objective evaluation standards must be formulated and implemented to ensure that our faculty members are truly able to deliver quality education. The existing curricula must be further developed and improved to make it aligned with the highest educational standards, and to make it competitive and relevant in today’s ever-changing demands.

Quality management standards shall likewise be instituted to guide and document the University’s journey towards achieving the above-stated goals, in order to recalibrate the institution’s culture of doing things, and to steer the University towards continuous development and success, even beyond the tenure of any given leadership and management. This way, each unit’s or individual’s efforts, outputs, insights and work will be harmonized and ensured to match set expectations, shared purposes, and most importantly, the needs of the students who are the number one stakeholders of an educational institution.

The above are easier said than done. Let us all work together as a single unit, as a family, for a better UDM, a second home for our Merlions to be proud of. I look forward to meeting you all in campus soon.

More details about the University President

Ma. Felma Carlos-Tria, Ed.D. is currently the University President and Chief Academic and Executive Officer of Universidad de Manila (UDM), following her unanimous election by the UDM’s Board of Regents in August 2021.

The Universidad de Manila (UDM), formerly known as City College of Manila, was established in 1995 pursuant to Ordinance No. 7885 enacted by the City Council of Manila during the administration of Mayor Alfredo S. Lim. It pioneered free tertiary education for the underprivileged but deserving youth who did not have the financial capabilities to obtain a college education so they can improve their lives in a holistic manner. The University offers Senior High School, Undergraduate, Graduate, Micro-credentialing, and Industry Training Programs.

Dr. Tria has been an academician for 20 years — Professor – Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), Southville International School and Colleges (SISC), Southville International School Affiliated with Foreign University (SISFU) – Pearson, International College of Hospitality Management, Australia, and International Hotel School, Isle of Man; Administrator – Dean, Undergraduate, Graduate, and International Programs Director.

Dr. Tria has been active in local and international linkages such as partnerships between UDM and the Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) for its Green Environment Advocacy programs, the formulation of UDM’s Barangay Governance Program sponsored by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Manila, and forging partnerships with Huawei-ICT Academy/Talent Alliance and other Universities in Asia. She is also part of extension services and outreach activities through the SEED Foundation and Asian Federation of Student Leaders (AFSL).

Dr. Tria is a Team Leader, Assessor, and Ambassador of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Competitiveness Bureau’s Philippine Quality Award and one of the panelists for its 4th Annual Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Academic Symposium under the Professional category, an Accreditor of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA), and a member of the Association of Local Colleges Universities (ALCU).

She was instrumental to Southville College Division having been granted the Autonomous Status – the youngest institution to receive this honor from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) when she was its Director. Dr. Tria has also received several awards in educational administration from EDXEL USA and the COTS Star Teacher with Administrative Position Award from the Private Higher Education Institutions Inc. Consortium of the South, 1st Runner Up to name a few.

Furthermore, she has an extensive research involvement through organization of conferences, publications, and presentations in countries like the US, Dubai, and Hong Kong in the areas of Media Communication Literacy, Educational Administration, and Information Communication Technology.

She obtained her doctorate degree in Educational Administration and her Master of Arts in Communication Management in PLM and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UP). She has earned academic units from the same University in the program Doctor of Philosophy in Media Studies as a Presidential Scholar, Education course from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). She is an alumna of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of National University of Singapore having finished the executive program Transforming Higher Education Leaders Through Effective Policy Reforms by the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) and currently enrolled in the executive program Global Academic Leadership at the Asian Institute of Management as a scholar of the Commission on Higher Education.

Message from the 16th President of the Universidad de Manila (Class Opening SY 2022 - 2023)

We are glad and grateful because it is the first time after a long time that we are back on campus again. We are happy because after the long years of virtual classes, our students choose to continue their studies here at UDM. The same appreciation goes to our newcomers and new faculty members.

We have prepared the school in the best shape possible and with this, we thank everyone who worked on all the health, security, and quality preparations so we can provide our students the best learning experience.

I personally laud our academic heads, our faculty, our health and safety officers, and the maintenance and engineering department for making this happen.

As we begin a new school year, we will not only pursue greater academic standing; we will be a responsible and compliant member of the UDM community so that this comeback will be sustained until we are completely free from the pandemic.

On behalf of the UDM management, we welcome all of you and wish you a happy and safe schooling with us.