The Doctor of Education students of the ISAT U College of Education Graduate School conducted a Study Visit in Luzon on June 13 to 15, 2023. They were accompanied by ISAT U President Dr. Raul F. Muyong, their professor in the course Global Trends and Issues in Education, in the multidisciplinary discussions with the administrators of Philippine Normal University (PNU), National Teachers College (NTC), Bulacan State University (BulSU), Polytechnic University of the Philippines Open University System (PUP OUS) and the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), respectively.
The first day of the Study Visit was on June 13, 2023 at PNU and NTC. There were enriching exchanges during the discussion on education megatrends, issues in the Philippine basic education and higher education, curriculum innovation, and management of educational institutions among others. On one hand, PNU is the National Center for Teacher Education in the country, and the Doctor of Education students were given the opportunity to learn more about their educational and research frameworks, which are being used to prepare the university to be future-ready. On the other hand, NTC is a private, non-sectarian educational institution located in Quiapo, Manila. The college has been preparing teachers for over 50 years and is one of the country’s pioneers in higher education training. In fact, ISAT U faculty members were recipients of the Flexible Learning Modalities training championed by NTC at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Together with Dr. Muyong, the Doctor of Education students visited Bulacan State University (BulSU) on June 14, 2023 – the second day of their study visit. Bulacan State University (BulSU) prides itself with its state-of-the-art library, which houses various book collections, audio-visual rooms, an amphitheater, a cafeteria, student and faculty lounges, individual and group study rooms, and meeting rooms among others. Furthermore, the ISAT U doctorate students learned BulSU’s student policy programs, internal quality assurance, testing and evaluation, OBE framework, Small Private Online Courses (SPOC), and its Conceive, Design, Implementation, and Operation (CDIO) framework.
The three-day Study Visit was capped with discussions on best practices, library resources, technology integration in instruction, educational trends both national and international, issues on quality assurance, revisiting of the curricula and its continuous development, retention policies, and internationalization of education at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Open University 
System (PUP OUS) and Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), respectively. PUP OUS is an institutional cohort of ISAT U and is advocating lifelong learning for adults from all walks of life. Micro-credentials in a variety of fields are available to almost everyone seeking growth and development through higher education. Moreover, TUP is a state university founded in 1901 as the Manila Trade School and has later evolved into a technical vocational school. The university is known for its strong emphasis on practical and hands-on learning, with state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories for research and development.
The Study Visit led by Dr. Muyong ended, but the experiences and knowledge gained by his Doctor of Education students left an indelible mark as they continue teaching, touching, and transforming lives the Tradean way.
Photos and write-up by:
By Jieza J. Napone, LPT
