Archives for June 2020

The latest products of research and innovations of ISAT U and other State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) of the country were the focus of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) 2020 State Universities and Colleges (SUC) Expo at the Activity Center, Ayala Malls, Trinoma on March 9-11, 2020.

Dubbed The Art of SUCCESS, ISAT U along with other SUCs exhibited distinct products showing their involvement to the development of science and technology that could provide impact on the socio-economic sector in their locality.

Attuned to the theme, “Passion, Innovate, and Connection,” ISAT U presented its produce from research and innovation. The university booth offered the yarn and fabrics generated at the newly-launched Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC), bangus hopia and cookies, banana butterscotch and chips a peel (made from banana peel flour), stuffs from the Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab) and the tea products from the dehydrator machine, an ISAT U research innovation.

The yarn from the RYPIC aims to revive the native weaving industry and to develop tropical fibers native to the region. In collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) the project will also provide technical support to micro-small-medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in textile and allied products through the development and production of natural textile-fiber based yarn. The RYPIC is the first regional yarn innovation center in the country.

The output of the FabLab, on the other hand, jumpstarts the expectation that the facility will spur the growth of micro, small, medium scale enterprises through the university’s research and innovation. The equipment and facilities of the FabLab granted by the Department of Trade and Industry at ISAT U is the only fabrication facility in the region.

Meanwhile the materials for herbal tea  are results of development in research and technology. In October last year, the Dehydrator Machine for Herbal Tea Products was launched. The dehydrator is the latest of the two ISAT U research projects for food processing.
In 2018, a Multi-powered Drying System for Food Production was launched and has been creating impact to the livelihood of the seaweeds farmers. It was also presented by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) to the Senate to support the SUCs budget proposal for research.

The Commission on Higher Education launched the “The Art of SUCCESS: 2020 State Universities and College Expo” to ensure that the Higher Education Act of 1994 continues to promote the country’s research culture and relative functions.
Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez was the guest of honor. Invited guests were HE Peter MacArthur, Embassy of Canada Ambassador-Designate and Ms. Crista McInnis, Senior Trade Commissioner Counselor . Rizal Technological University is this year’s host.

A consultative stakeholders consultation for Fiscal Year 2021 was held simultaneously in all ISAT U campuses on January 30, 2020.

The meeting was pursuant to National Budget Memorandum NO. 133 directing the agencies to conduct consultation with RDC’s, CSO’s, Student/Faculty Associaition and PASUC and other stakeholders on the proposed strategies of the agency for new and expanded programs and projects.

Aside from the students and faculty, representatives from the administrative staff, alumni, College, Community, Parent and Teachers Association (CCPTA) were also invited. “Suppose to be, this is only for students and faculty but we also need the inputs of all the stakeholders, “ said Dr. Raul F. Muyong.

The consultation covered the areas of General Administration and Support Services, Support to Operation, Operations which include advanced education program, higher education program, research program and technical advisory extension program.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Study in the Philippine Program (Education Tourism Program) will support the revival of the ISAT U historic tunnels. The pronouncement was made by Atty. Lily Freida M. Milla, Officer-in Charge, CHEd-International Affairs Staff, when she was invited speaker of the University’s strategic planning on internationalization on Jan. 23-24, 2020.

“Yung commitment namin sa edu-tourism, we have been discussing this with the Chair ( De Vera).  It is about the whole  eco-tourism of making ISAT U as a destination creating more partnership for you not just internationally but also convergence with the communities, with the local government and the national government, “ said Atty. Milla.

The Commission realized the potential of ISAT U’s rich historical and cultural heritage fitted to the priority area of the program.
The then Iloilo Trade School was built in 1905 under the Bureau of Education of the American Civil Government. During the Japanese occupation, tunnels were built in the compound of the school which have been a part of Iloilo City historical and cultural heritage.
“It looks like a deep well but actually it is a tunnel. We wanted to revive that tunnel,” said Dr. Raul Muyong. The tunnel runs from the main campus to the new site and into Salog River in Jaro district..

The University President also recognized the impact of the project once it pushes through. “Iloilo City is a booming city in terms of tourism. So it will boost the tourism industry of our city,” he said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency. “Aside from helping the city’s tourism industry, it will also support the institution’s Bachelor of Science in Tourism program,” Dr. Muyong added.  It has also been known that in several instances Japanese tourists visited the tunnels at the New Site.

He also divulged that at present coordination with the Iloilo City government is undertaken for mapping of the tunnels.
According to National and International Affairs (NIA) Director Nemia H. Mabaquiao,  the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council has already issued a conservation clearance as initial step for the project.  The NIA Office takes lead of the undertaking.

Atty. Milla though clarified that the edu-tourism involves not only the tunnels but also the whole ISAT U. “Very exciting project hindi lang yung tunnel, even the one in Leon for agri-tourism,” she said.

Dr. Raul F. Muyong was also quick to point out the newly-inaugurated Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center that revives the weaving industry at Miagao Campus as another tourist attraction in the making.

“Yan ang partnership ng tourism. The university should actively promote about heritage, about culture, about the potentials also about communities. “Atty. Milla responded.

The project addresses one of the priority areas of the program that is to transform Philippine Higher Education into a hub of world-class higher education in key disciplines that integrates heritage, local culture, and diversity of natural resources which demands acquisition of competencies gained from hands-on and practical experiential learnings in a social laboratory that is characterized by flexibility, industry partnership and convergence of disciplines where learning is a family experience.

 

The University conducted a strategic planning for integration of programs and policies to enhance the 5-year plan for internationalization (IZN) on January 23-24, 2020.

Spearheaded by the National and International Affairs (NIA) Office, the two-day program enabled the different offices to collaborate and integrate their respective roles. The activity was guided by pools of Specialist from the Commission on Higher Education-International Affairs Staff (CHEd-IAS).

Atty. Lily Freida M. Milla, CHEd OIC Executive Director, discussed the leveling of IZN expectation, institutional internationalization process and design and the CHEd Memorandum Order No. 55 series of 2016. She gave particular emphasis on the internalization and to level up the curriculum as well as partnerships to create impact to international rankings of the universities.

With the support of the Commission, Atty. Milla also acknowledged the higher learning institutions’ contributions to the UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). “The universities contribute to all the 17; you are to facilitate localize and sustainable development goals so that they will not become ghost, they become reality in the locality, in the communities,” she said.

Atty. Milla also explained UNESCO key indicators for INZ, the INZ framework, the newly-developed IZN roadmap which includes creation a brand that will be put in the ASEAN region. The CHEd according to her, is supporting the different institutions in developing their brands and they develop a program called Fostering World-class Philippine Universities –Philippines HEIs program. Through the program, CHEd is giving support by providing SUCs with international benchmarking activities.

The presentation and appraisal of ISAT U Vision, Mission and Goals, Mandates and Institutional Programs in relations to INZ programs was conducted by Ms. Jennifer D. Montero, Project Technical Staff III, CHED-IAS. Meanwhile, Dr. Christine Ferrer, Director for External Linkages and international Affairs, Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), shared TAUs best practices in international programs, linkages and projects. Ms. Montero and Dr. Ferrer discussed the strategic planning process and accountability indicators of IZN and the SDGs. They also facilitated the workshop for enhancement of strategic INZ program of ISAT U which was participated by the Administrative Council members, external affairs coordinators, faculty and administrative personnel from different ISAT U Campuses.

The third lecture forum on employees’ welfare and benefits held at the Mansion on January 10, 2019 focused on non-monetary benefits and wellness.

Atty. Alexis Palomar-Tabino discussed updates and latest issuances of the Civil Service Commission on non-monetary benefits like Expanded Maternity Leave, Rehabilitation Leave, Solo Parent benefits. Atty. Tabino is the Asst. Regional Director of Civil Service Commission Regional Office 6 and one of the resource persons of the lecture

Health and wellness in the workplace is another concern of the ISAT U administration. This year, stress management was given emphasis.
Ms. Florabel Santacera-Suarez, University Psychometrician of the Central Philippine University lectured on “Work and Well-being: A Stress Management and Self-Care Seminar for University Personnel.” She discussed on stress and its factors, the effect on the performance and the coping mechanisms. A series of relaxing mental and physical exercises were also taught to the participants.

The activity was also the venue for the University President, and the Vice Presidents for Administration and Finance and the Research and Extension to update the employees on the status of the university and what direction it is heading to.

In the President’s time, Dr. Raul F. Muyong presented the need for curriculum and syllabus revision, program compliance with policies, standards and guidelines of the CHEd, updates on new courses and new CHEd issuances The University was also granted by the Bureau of Immigration the authority to accept foreign students and the inauguration of the RYPIC.

For the challenges, Dr. Muyong shared the strategic direction of every campuses. Miagao campus is planned to become industrial creative design campus because of the RYPIC while Leon Campus is for agricultural engineering and smart farming. Iloilo City Campus is positioned to be center of education, science, engineering and technology. Dumangas and Barotac Nuevo Campus is developed to for techno-preneurship programs. The University is also planning to offer textile technology. Talks and compliance are also being undertaken in preparation for the offering of environmental planning, environmental science, agricultural engineering, agri-cultural technology. ISAT U is also one of the few universities groomed to offer data science. Bio-technology, Bachelor of Arts in English Language are also included in the plans

“Due to proper budget utilization, ISAT U is one of the universities granted with highest budget for fiscal year 2020,” announced Dr. Muyong. Equitable distribution of resources for more infrastructure projects and additional facilities are among the top priorities of the administration. “Our budget will be equitably distributed- no campus will be left behind, we will grow together,” he said.
For administrative concerns, Dr. Gabriel M. Salistre, Jr. discussed the latest guidelines as tool for measuring the performance of the individual and the different units.

Dr. Carmelo V. Ambut, on the other hand, elaborated the need of every faculty to engage in research. He also presented the different fields of research needed by the community and the guidelines for research proposal, research presentation and the benefits of research to individual performance of the faculty.