The UP Manila College of Nursing hosted the Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES) International Deans’ Course (IDC) under the National Multiplication Training (NMT)-Philippines 2021-2022, last June 8, 2022.
The course is a training in higher education management in an international context and is designed for newly appointed deans and heads of departments from Southeast Asia and East Africa. The first part was held online from Nov. 6–Dec. 4, 2021, while the second and final part of the training program was held last June 6–9, 2022, through an in-person workshop in Manila.
This training program for 25 deans of different higher education institutions is supported and funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), coordinated by the University of Potsdam in Germany, and jointly organized by the Philippine Normal University, Centro Escolar University, De La Salle University, University of San Carlos, and the University of the Philippines Manila.
Prof. Dr. Peter Mayer, a European Expert of DIES IDC NMT Philippines, discussed Change Management. He said that change management is about changing the rituals where it is appropriate and making sure that people are recognized, people see what you do, and people see what others do.
He added that what makes a strong leader and a strong manager is in not being too normative, but keeping all the above issues in mind.
In discussing financial management in private higher education, Prof. Dr. Maria Flordeliza Anastacio, Regional Expert of DIES IDC NMT Philippines asserted, “You should have very good negotiation skills because you will negotiate for university support and a good amount of allocation of resources based on your academic program priorities, and you will have to regularly oversee how your budgets are applied.”
Dr. Felicia I. Yeban, Former VP for Finance and Administration and Former VP for University Relations and Advancement, Philippine Normal University, advised that deans of state-run universities and colleges (SUCs) should acquire two kinds of mindsets: legal and fiscal mindsets. Because SUCs are governed by the Philippine legal framework, they should be prepared to think in terms of the rules that govern and will govern their decisions. The fiscal mindset is to ensure judicious spending of the budget, for in cases of its non-utilization, it eventually will have an impact on the entire performance of the university.
“The key to good administration is choosing the correct people; don’t choose your friends, they may not be the right people for that position,” said Prof. Dr. Gerry Janairo, Former Chancellor, De la Salle University-Manila and DIES IDC Southeast Asia Alumni. He shared the best practices in University Leadership and Management such as having an open communication with students and faculty; being prepared to stand your ground; and providing a clean, safe, and comfortable nurturing learning environment where all members of the community, the faculty, administrator, and students should sing the same song.
The program was capped by a tour inside the College of Nursing building and a Thanksgiving Dinner.
(This article, written by Charmaine Lingdas, was first published in the UP Manila Website on August 10, 2022)