Author: Padayon UP

UP organized the second public service conference for colleges and universities in the Philippines to take stock of, develop, and possibly coordinate public service delivered by the country’s higher educational institutions (HEIs). UP organized the first one in 2015.

Held in two legs by the UP Padayon Public Service Office—in Bonifacio Global City and Cebu City on November 9-10 and 28-29, 2017, respectively—the 2nd Colleges and Universities Public Service Conference (CUPSCon 2) had the theme “Compassion and Social Responsibility: Cornerstones of Public Service and Extension in Higher Education”.

The conference featured more than 130 presentations from 35 HEIs, reflecting the range, best practices, challenges, and thrusts of public service by private and public HEIs in the country.

A social gathering in honor of UP public servants led by Ugnayan ng Pahinungod and Padayon Public Service Office pioneers followed the 2nd Gawad Pangulo for Excellence in Public Service awarding ceremonies on December 5, 2017 at the Institute of Biology, UP Diliman.

Certificates of recognition from the Padayon Public Service Office were handed out to the former director of the UP System Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, Dr. Grace Aguiling-Dalisay, and former directors of the Padayon Public Service Office, Dr. Ferdinand Llanes and Prof. Nelson Cainghog. Dr. Glecy Atienza received a special citation. Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Ranjit Rye received the award on behalf of Cainghog.

On 16-17 October 2017, members of the UP faculty led the conduct of the Executive Seminar on Fostering Dynamic Competition in the Philippine Power Industry through the Energy Policy and Development Program (EPDP) and in partnership with the Philippine Competition Commission and the World Bank Group. The seminar was held at F1 Hotel BGC and University of the Philippines BGC on the first and second days, respectively.

Through a workshop held on October 24 and 25, 2017 at the National Arts Center, Mt. Makiling, Laguna, the Padayon Public Service Office of the UP System prepared a batch of University personnel to write journal articles based on the public service programs they have been undertaking in the University.

Eight faculty, research, extension and professional staff members of UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Manila, UP Visayas, UP Mindanao, and UP Open University went through workshop sessions on conceptual frameworks and quantitative methods of research that can best apply to their public service, so that they can come up with journal articles, either in English and Filipino, or both.

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Opening educational opportunities to everyone is UP Open University’s (UPOU) mandate as a public service institution. Through the years, UPOU has been involved in the improvement of the practice of open learning and distance education. UPOU explores and implements different pedagogies to reach more students and help improve education in the Philippines.

UPOU is an advocate of openness and adheres to the philosophy of Open Education. When the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) was introduced in 2012, UPOU immediately explored this new technology and pedagogy. A series of MOOCs workshops and conversations were conducted to understand how MOOCs could target specific skill sets and social sectors.

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The Division of Humanities has sustained its KATBARI Arts Festival in celebration of the National Arts Month of February for about a decade now.  The event is held in conjunction with the nation-wide activities led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.  The KatbariArtsfest consists of a series of events that include lecture forums on the arts, art workshops, exhibits, poetry reading, poetry performance, concerts and theater productions.  Its purpose is to showcase the creative works of student and faculty artists, enhance the discourse on the study of literature, visual and media arts, and the performing arts and enrich the community life with cultural and artistic events.