ACES HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In 1993, Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology (SMIT) was registered as a non-stock and non-profit corporation at the Securities and Exchange Commission and was granted the permit to operate by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports as a technical institute. Inspired and driven by the passion in educating the masses, the management focused on short-term courses particularly on computer, hotel and restaurant management, office management and seaman course. There was a significant increase in enrollment from that time on since the quality of training was never compromised for any consideration. In 2006, the Institute was renamed into ACES Polytechnic College and was elevated to a college status, offering degree courses. Two years in Panabo, Davao del Norte, ACES Polytechnic College (formerly SMIT) established a new school, which was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1995 as ACES Technical Institute (ATI), distinct from the corporate identity of the mother school. Several degree programs were offered in addition to the existing technical courses. Like the mother school, ATC enjoyed the good corporate reputation that fueled a consistent yearly increase of enrollment while other schools suffered decreased enrollment. Another new school was opened in 1998 at Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province. It was registered as ACES Technical Institute of Nabunturan Foundation (ATIN-F). The opening of ACES Polytechnic College, Davao City, followed this. The last two schools were granted the permit to operate technical courses by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The ACES Colleges System with four component schools is known to be strong on entrepreneurship in its curricular offerings and training programs. Since its founding in 1993, all its component schools maintained its mandate of providing quality manpower to the masses even though it was elevated to the status of a college. All academic programs are tailored-fit to the needs of the academe and industries. It has linkages in Indonesia and Malaysia. Locally, the Colleges are appropriately linked with various private and public agencies, like the Philippine National Police for its Criminology Program, the Hotels, and Restaurants for its hospitality programs, etc. The Colleges are equipped with modern facilities in education and training. All schools have their own interactive speech laboratories, particularly the Standard American English. In ACES Tagum College, there is an existing incubation center for Hotel and Restaurant Management students where a hotel is operated on the College campus. Likewise, the students in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration are incubated in Cooperative operations anchored on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). ACES maintains its flexibility in adapting new and emerging challenges in the education sector. It always promotes a sense of urgency with ambitious goals, and where ACES believes that taking a risk in a heroic act of doing the best for the community is an opportunity. The College is committed to providing the significant elements for employment of our graduates so that they will be the most wanted manpower in the industry. While the College adheres to the basic curriculum for each course/program, its teaching and learning environment are anchored on the employment equation above-shown to ensure that each graduate can be more competitive in the industry of his/her choice. ACES Colleges System is composed of four schools in different locations. Its vision, together with the mission, quality policy and goals is one. We are inspired of โgiving more for the lessโ. Our commitment to providing quality, affordable and accessible education to our students is beyond our personal interest. We are self-motivated educators and support staff who feel the imperative need of educating the youth of the land, to ensure that the bounties of nature could be tapped wisely and sustainably. As a matter of intervention, we believed that knowledge beats any form of material wealth in serving humanity. We are propelled by the engine of enthusiasm and fueled with the desire to utilize the best in us for the sake of posterity. We would like to build a society of knowledge that protects the interest of every human being and the environment he/she lives. OUR GRADUATES
Most of the graduates of ACES Colleges System are working and serving their respective communities. Some are already employed overseas receiving good salaries. It is also our commitment to produce workers whose hearts are for the Filipino people and to serve our motherland. However, our curricula and mode of instructions are global in scope and delivered in a world-class setting. For the last 4 years, our graduates in technical courses are 100% TESDA NCII passers. This means that all graduates have passed the National Certificate in their field of studies where TESDA issued the certificate of competency. Again, it makes our graduates more competitive than any other graduates of similar qualification(s) without NC II certification. More than these, passers of the NC II conferred upon them sub-professional 2nd Grade Civil Service Eligibility essential for employment in government offices. Our graduates who had undergone Standard American English course are doubly competitive in seeking employment. Likewise, the majority of them are considered near hired in call centers considering their rigid preparations and their abilities to speak like Americans and understand like any other native English speaking person. Our employment rate for our graduates within 6 months after graduation is 40% and within 1 year is 90%. We are proud of them as they are proud of us.
