History of the IE Department
1960s
In 1965, the College of Engineering started offering the degree of B.S. Industrial Engineering
Under the supervision of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Professors from the Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Mathematics Departments were among the first teachers of the first batch of industrial engineering students. Many of the first batches of IE students were shiftees from Mechanical Engineering.
1967: The first batch of Industrial Engineers graduated.
Jose Ventura Gamatero, B.S. IE ’67
1967: The UP Industrial Engineering Club was founded.
1970s
1971: The Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research was officially established.
Becoming the newest department of the College of Engineering, and Dr. Luis Pascual became the new department’s first chairperson
1976: The UP Society of Industrial Engineering Majors (now known as the UP Circle of Engineering Majors) was officially recognized.
1980s
1981: The first summa cum laude of the department—Jesse O. Ang—graduated with a weighted average of 1.078.
During the late 1980s, the department initiated a series of colloquia facilitated by the faculty members and attended by members of both the industry and the academe.
1990s
A photo dated May 26, 1995 offers a glimpse of how it all started. The UP IE Alumni Association was incorporated in 2006—more than a decade after it was initially conceptualized.
Up until now, the students of the IE Department continue to excel in sports. The department has been a consistent placer in the Engineering Cup tournaments.
1998: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) named the Department as the country’s sole Center of Excellence in the field of Industrial Engineering.
The faculty and staff of the department at the close of the last millennium.
2000s
2006: The UP IE Alumni Association was incorporated.
A jam-packed Engineering Theater during the First Lean Six Sigma Symposium last November 2008.
Prof. Amado San Mateo, ME ’56 received a lifetime achievement award in 2009 after decades of service in the university. Lolo Madz, as he is fondly called, is one of the first IE professors who taught to the first batch of IE students.
2009: The department completed its transfer from the first floor of Melchor Hall to the fourth floor vacated by the College of Architecture. The renovation of the Faculty Room was aided by the UPIEAA.
The UPIEAA led the inauguration of the newly renovated IE/OR Faculty Room last August 2009. During the occasion, a commemorative plaque for the First Hundred UPIEAA Lifetime Members was also unveiled.
2010s
2012: The Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering (MEng IE) was officially instituted to that is intended for students aiming for careers in product and process design and development, and innovation in industry. Master of Engineering degree is a non-thesis degree that is comprised of strong technical and business coursework, usually including internship or applied research experience.
2018: To align with the Philippines’ K-12 program, the IE Department revised its 5-year BS IE program to a 4-year curriculum. The 4-year BS IE curriculum features a required internship program, dedicated Supply Chain Management courses as well as a Capstone Project course that serves as the culmination of all the learnings of a BS IE undergraduate student.
2020 – Present
2022: The IE Department has officially moved to its new home at the IE-ME Building. The Melchor Hall offices are still utilized for classrooms and management.
This relocation marks a significant milestone for IEORD, providing our students and faculty with:
- Modernized learning spaces and laboratories for enhanced learning and research experiences.
- Opportunities for increased collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, fostering interdisciplinary innovation.
- A platform for future growth and expansion to further our academic and research endeavors.
