Toward Student Welfare and International Excellence

From its humble beginnings as the former Quezon City Medical Center (QCMC) in 1971 to its transformation under the Guico family in 1986, World Citi Colleges (WCC) has emerged as a renowned institution in higher education and training across various fields of study such as allied medical professions, tourism, hospitality, business, information technology, and aviation. Under the leadership of current President Raymond Patrick V. Guico, WCC is poised to ascend as a premier higher education institution in Asia, a testament to its leadership's vision and dedication Guico became involved in the education business at a very young age, shaped by his parents’ acquisition of QCMC, former Pangasinan Representative Ramon Naval Guico, and Arlyn Grace V. Guico. Initially not involved in the field of education, the family plunged into managing the institution due to unexpected circumstances, paving the way for young Guico’s early exposure to the family business. “My mother was involved in real estate. She was into buying and selling,” explains Guico. “My parents purchased QCMC property for real estate purposes. The original intention was to buy it and sell it after some time. However, when they acquired the property, the EDSA Revolution occurred. They were forced to manage, adapt, and learn the ropes.” Guico not only inherited his mother’s entrepreneurial drive and can-do spirit but also gained f irst-hand training and hands-on experience by being exposed to the operations from a young age.

GUICO ATTRIBUTES WCC’S STEADY GROWTH AND PROGRESS TO THREE FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS: THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THE RIGHT VALUES, AND THE RIGHT PEOPLE. WITH THESE IN PLACE, HE HAS SUCCESSFULLY GUIDED HIS ORGANIZATION TOWARD BECOMING A LEADING INSTITUTION IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

“Growing up, we talked about the family business during breakfast, dinner, and whenever we were home. In this room, I was exposed to the business,” he recalls, referring to his office. “My mom would bring me to the office, and she would assign tasks like packing admission kits for our patients. For each kit packed, I would earn Php 5.”

 Instilled with an entrepreneurial spirit and practical experience, Guico’s journey from assisting his mother in simple tasks to assuming the mantle of president at WCC signifies a transformation that has seen the institution evolve into a prestigious higher education institution with global affiliations and a commitment to excellence.

 THE THREE PILLARS OF TRANSFORMATION

Guico attributes WCC’s steady growth and progress to three fundamental pillars: the right direction, the right values, and the right people. With these in place, he has successfully guided his organization toward becoming a leading institution in higher education. “The first pillar is having the right direction. When we began to think bigger and more internationally, it completely changed the game,” Guico explains. “The second pillar I emphasize is focusing on the right values. Once we established our direction, ensuring our people’s values aligned was crucial. We honed in on a set of values that everyone in our organization should uphold. This was the second most pivotal factor in our journey.”

 “The third pillar is undoubtedly f inding the right talent. When we have individuals who share our passion, mindset, and determination, significant improvements occur,” he says. Guico’s emphasis on aligning the right talent with WCC’s vision of becoming a top Asian school has been instrumental in the institution’s rapid growth and expansion. To him, being the “right talent” in WCC is characterized by three main attributes. “To be considered the right talent, one must be competent, results-driven, and committed to upholding our institution’s values,” he explains.

 WCC now offers education from senior high school to post-graduate studies and certificate courses. It has expanded to five campuses located in Antipolo, Quezon City, Guimba-Nueva Ecija, and the WCC Aeronautical and Technological College campuses in Caloocan and Pangasinan.

CHAMPIONING A STUDENT-CENTRIC APPROACH

Guico has made it his mission to prioritize student welfare and continuously raise the quality of education.  “At the end of the day, why are we improving our services? Why do we want to stay relevant in today’s business environment? It’s because once our students graduate, we want their skills to be relevant and attractive to these corporations, whichever they will join,” he proclaims. Guico has instilled the above mindset in every employee, faculty member, partner, and educator, ensuring that even minor details reflect this priority.

 “Let’s say you’re part of maintenance. The mindset is not ‘Kailangan ko lang ba na ayusin ito? (Do I just have to fix this?)’. It’s more of ‘Kapag hindi ko ‘to inayos, ganito ang mangyayari sa estudyante. (If I don’t fix this, what will happen to the students?),’” Guico explains. “So, it’s a different mindset throughout, and it helped us transform our organization.” It’s not only the student-centric mindset that has led to WCC’s triumphs; Guico’s servant leadership style also plays a crucial role, reflecting his vital and supportive role as president. “I live by the motto ‘Take care of your people, and your people will take care of you and your company,’” Guico shares. “When I talk to my people, I ask them, ‘What do you need? Is there something that I can help you with? Is there something I can support you with?’” My job is to support them. And if you have excellent talent, empower them. Take a step back and just watch the magic happen. And that’s what we’ve been doing.”

Guico’s servant leadership style also translates well into WCC’s core values of excellence, diligence, integrity, and Christ-centeredness. Much like his training in school administration and HEI management, this value system f inds its roots in his mother. “It came from my mom. She’s a dedicated Christian, a very prayerful woman. Growing up, we witnessed our fair share of miracles and divine intervention,” he says. “And servant leadership is the type of leadership that my mom has exhibited. “It’s the same for me. I saw it in her life and learned it from my experience running our family business.”

Even when it comes to his proudest achievements as WCC President, Guico always puts others before himself and takes pride in the success of his esteemed alumni. “I take great pride in seeing the success stories of our alumni. Just to see, hear, and learn about their success stories, it’s the best feeling in the world,” he happily shares. “To serve and care is a mantra that will make the world a better place. It touches the core and the purpose of why we exist here,” he adds.

TOWARD AN INTERNATIONAL HORIZON

For Guico, it is not enough that WCC has five campuses in the country; he envisions taking WCC to a global platform, showcasing Filipino excellence internationally. Partnerships with universities in Canada (Centennial College, Conestoga College, Seneca College, British Columbia Institute of Technology), the United States (Rivier University), and Huachiew Chalermprakiet University (HCU) in Thailand, to name a few, have grown WCC’s network and program offerings into first-class global education. This year, WCC has earned prestigious international recognition, being ranked 186 in the World University Ranking for Innovation (WURI) 2024 and Global Top 300 for Innovative Universities, Crisis Management, and Social Responsibility. This is a back-to-back recognition as WCC also reached the 100-200 ranking for the 2023 WURI. WCC Aeronautical and Technological College meanwhile achieved a rewarding milestone as it also earned international recognition, being ranked 1501+ in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2024. Guico credits these achievements to his people and the campus-wide goal of becoming a top university in Asia. “It’s already part of our DNA. Reaching for higher accreditations and higher levels is already part of the people. There’s a victorious cycle that’s already happening,” he explains. “My people are very much motivated to create that impact, that change in our students’ lives and even our communities, whatever we touch. We want to become a highly reliable, highly sought-after institution where Filipinos can get quality education.”

 Of course, gaining global partners was never the end goal for WCC’s internationalization efforts; it was always about learning from them and improving their systems to lift the Filipino education system to global standards. “When we partner with these institutions, some are the same size as us, some even much larger, and we learn from them. We are able to benchmark and see what they do. We are able to see their best practices. And not just on the local level but on the international level; this is why we are able to set our direction in a much better fashion,” Guico expounds.

With his sights set on further development and higher accreditation, Guico proudly seeks out industry talents to help WCC’s students and faculty become competitive and stay relevant in a fast-paced world. “We’re also getting a lot of good talent from different industries to help us. We’re doing internationalization. I believe that, in that stage, we’ve made our mark in the industry. Improving the quality of education, staying relevant, and ensuring that our students get the best education possible.”

GUICO’S EXPANDING ROLES

Guico and his team’s efforts and achievements have certainly not gone unnoticed in the local education circle. Recently, he was awarded a Certificate of Commendation as first runner-up for the Internationalization Leadership Award in the Internationalization Champions of Nation-Building and Sustainability (ICON) Awards from the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) International Affairs Service. Asked about his feelings about this honor, he once again highlights how global linkages enhance the overall quality of Filipino education. “Internationalization brings a lot of benefits, a lot of benchmarking, and a lot of improvements in the institution. I believe that’s why CHED created this award: to showcase leaders and institutions who are doing it excellently here in the Philippines. It’s a humbling experience for me and means a lot to be recognized. I, for one, just did the work, and to be recognized for it? That’s already a prize. It means a lot to me,” he graciously says.

 Moreover, Guico’s experiences and knowledge in internationalization have led him to be appointed Special Adviser to CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera. His close involvement with the HEI governing body will allow him to share his insights to help Philippine HEIs achieve higher rankings, global accreditations, and better opportunities. “Internationalization helps us because we are able to talk to other HEIs, collaborate, and share best practices. I’m very grateful for the position given to me. It allows me to help and inspire other HEIs to collaborate,” he says. Guico’s commitments, accomplishments, and plans for the future have solidified his reputation as a leading figure and trailblazer in the Philippine education system. But does he see himself stepping away from the field of education and jumping into public service like the rest of his family? “If I am called for  a higher service, one of the requirements is that the people running the show in our family business (i.e., WCC) must have the experience; they can run it without me,” he contemplates. “To give the reins to someone else, I need to make sure that I create that special team of the right individuals to make miracles in our organization. By then, I can say, ‘OK, I’ve done my part in the family business and am ready for a higher service.’” And what is his message to WCC students, alumni, and the community? “For our students, study hard. Learn as much as you can. It’s a time when you can explore and make mistakes. View the school as a large laboratory wherein you can tinker around. Be diligent. Uphold the values of your institution. To the alumni, continue to serve and care. Become salt and light to the people you encounter. And to the people in the organization, I know the work is hard. Ang dami nating ginagawa (We have a lot of work to do), but stay the course. Remember that I am here always to support you, to make things happen,” he concludes.