Lyceum unveils new academic resource center as it celebrates 70th anniversary

The Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) in Manila on Wednesday formally inaugurated a new academic resource center in celebration of its 70th founding anniversary.

The inauguration of the Sotero H. Laurel Academic Resource Center was attended by LPU alumni, including Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia. Commission on Higher Education Chair Prospero De Vera also graced the event.

In an interview, Paolo Sotero Laurel, assistant vice president for non-academic operations, said the new center was inspired by the hit Korean drama “Start Up.”

“The LPU Manila is celebrating its 70th year foundation to commemorate the historic opening of the new academic year, post-pandemic, we want to welcome our students by providing a beautiful library. Actually inspired ito by the Kdrama ‘Start Up.’ We are so happy that the students really like it. It is very inclusive, modern, young,” he said.

The building includes interfaith prayer rooms and gender-neutral toilets. “We also have spaces for the students to de-stress so that they can practice self-care and take care of themselves,” said Laurel, emphasizing that students' mental health is very important to the university.

“Actually the non-traditional methods now for learning are not only the classroom,  we can learn outside the classroom. You also need spaces where students can collaborate, socialize and also just hangout and distressed because for us mental health is very important,” he added.

Laurel said the new building also has different zones for self-study and private spaces, meeting rooms, and an e-library.

“We are so happy that we are finally inaugurating this because nag-groundbreaking kami nung 2017, natamaan lang ng pandemic but now we are right in time for the new academic year,” he added.

The LPU said the new academic resource center building is located across the university’s main campus.

It said that it can accommodate the needs of the students and LPU stakeholders for “learning, research, or simply a place that will start big ideas.” — BM, GMA News