The Beginnings
Beginning as the New Era Educational Institute (NEEI) in June 17, 1975, the school offered secondary education in a building purchased by the Iglesia ni Cristo in Echague, Quipo, Manila. Twenty-three teachers and 466 students pioneered the school’s operation.
On June 1977, NEEI was formally incorporated under Republic Act 1459 as a private non-stock, non-profit educational institution aiming to develop academic excellence, professional responsibility, and social awareness founded on genuine Christian principles.
During the school year 1977-1978, NEEI also offered vocational and technical courses under the Non-Formal Education Program. In 2003, this was renamed the Center for Livelihood and Skills Training, offering a more vigorous life-long education to learners, young and old.
In 1978, the collegiate department opened in Diliman, Quezon City occupying the third and fourth floors of the Evangelical College building. The first and second levels served as the training center of the church for would-be ministers. Twelve collegiate courses were initially offered: AB Mass Communication, BS Psychology, BSBA Marketing, BSBA Accounting, BSBA Management, BSBA Banking and Finance, and two-year Junior Secretarial Course. In the field of engineering and technology, BS Civil Engineering, BS Electrical Engineering, BS Mechanical Engineering, BS Electronics and Communication Engineering were offered.
In 1981, NEEI assumed the name New Era College (NEC) after it was granted recognition by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports. In 1982, NEC held its first commencement exercise and conferred the degree of Bachelor of Science (in Psychology, Industrial Education, and Business Administration) on twelve graduates.
The Graduate School was established during the school year 1983-1984 offering the course Master of Arts in College teaching. The programs Bachelor of Elementary Education and Bachelor of Secondary also started that year. In 1984, NEC opened its Elementary Department and on May 10, 1985, Bro. Eraño G. Manalo inaugurated the new and permanent campus of New Era College along St. Joseph St., Milton Hills, Diliman, Quezon City. In view of the peace and order problems surrounding the vicinity of the Manila campus, the High School Department and Non-Formal Education Unit transferred to the new campus in Diliman. This brought together all the departments of the college under the roof of the new four-storey building.
In 1994, NEC started elementary education in San Fernando City, Pampanga and General Santos City in response to the request of the Iglesia ni Cristo brethren for an elementary school for their children. During the school year 1997-1998, these extensions started offering high school education as first year classes were opened initially. On June 5, 1998, the General Santos City branch inaugurated its very own campus in a half-hectare land area. On May 5, 2000, the Lipa City Campus was inaugurated with three majestic buildings towering over 2.9 hectares of land in Marawoy, Lipa City. On June 30, 1995, the college was granted university status by the Commission on Higher Education. The school was officially named New Era University.
Inspired by the attainment of university status and motivated by the challenge of excellence in education, New Era University submitted itself to voluntary accreditation. Today, four programs of the University enjoy Level II step 1 reaccredidation with the benefit of full curricular deregulation (Master of Arts in Education, Business Education and Administration courses, Arts and Sciences, and Education Courses). The following programs are Level II accredited, thus enjoying full administrative deregulation and partial curricular autonomy: Doctor of Education, Master in Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, High School, and Elementary.
The peacefulness, orderliness, brotherly love, and reverence for the words of God that govern the day to day order of things in the school inspire the development and maximization of the students’ potentials in different fields. The Elementary and the High School Departments garnered laurels in creative and journalistic writing competitions, in quiz bees, in the performing arts, and even in sports. A most notable achievement was made when an NEU school grader won in the United Nations Population Fund International Poster Making Competition held in New York, U.S.A.
The College Department also produced its own breed of achievers. The NEU varsity teams have contributed players to the Philippines’ national volleyball and basketball teams, as well as to the Philippine Amateur Basketball League. The College of Arts and Sciences produced a Grand Prize Winner in a National Students’ Art Competition. NEU engineering graduates have placed in the top ten list of engineering board examinations. NEU made news in the national scene when one of its graduates topped 1992 Professional Board Examination for teachers taken by 142,133 examinees nationwide.
Side by side with its academic functions, NEU also fulfills its socio-civic responsibility towards the larger community that lies beyond its walls. The students, faculty and staff members, and administration all do their share in conducting community extension services. A very impressive project is the Balik-Aral Program for out-of-school youth conducted by NEU in close coordination with the Department of Education Culture and Sports, now the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Iglesia ni Cristo Social Services Department. This program brings classes for the out-of-school youth right in their own vicinity using the local facilities of the Church, the expertise of NEU-trained teachers and the teaching-learning modules from DepEd.
With the CHED implementation of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) in June 2002, NEU received commendations from town mayors and community leaders for its successful implementation off all three NSTP components. Literacy Training Service, Community Welfare Service Training, and Reserved Office Training Corps.
To keep abreast with the electronic age, NEU launched its first Information Technology Seminar Workshop and Exhibits, tagged as the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Fun on March 18-23, 2002. This was followed by an IT-Empowerment Program in 2003 dubbed, “New e-ra for New Era,” wherein faculty members undertook preparations for the implementation of IT-driven classrooms. At present, construction of additional IT infrastructures is underway, including the procurements of additional computer units and other electronics and communication facilities.