OTHER MATTERS
J. On Regents’ Representatives at the Board
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universities without getting in the way of those in charge. She is willing to offer her services to put things together.
2. Vice President Concepcion said that her office already identified the top 20 universities with whom UP has tied up with primarily to protect the linkages from issues on security and intellectual property.
3. Meanwhile, the undergraduate student mobility program (MOVE UP) is being promoted to junior and senior students.
4. Reforms like reducing the GWA requirement from 1.25 to 1.75 are being done to allow more students to qualify for the program. One of the challenges is to get students to take 15-18 units of credit per semester, which is quite difficult because some of the units in UP Diliman or in UP Manila may not have the same course requirements as the prospective collaborating university. It is proposed that the 15 or 18 units would be any of the following: thesis; senior elective; any subject that has to do with sports development, arts, or civics; and an OJT. Units earned in these subjects can be credited in UP so that students graduate on time even if they spend a semester abroad.
5. Regent Senator Cayetano said that UP has to be aggressive in approaching international linkages.
6. Regarding graduating on time and the 15-18 units, students could take a lighter load first while abroad and make up the other units during the summer. That way, the students could take in the whole environment and culture of other universities.
7. Regent Senator Cayetano asked the UP Administration to review some of its processes particularly those that pertain to international linkages. President Pascual said that this could be the function of a BOR Academic Committee.
8. Chair Licuanan reiterated the suggestion that the Faculty Regent and the Vice President for Academic Affairs organize an informal meeting that will serve as an input to the decision of forming a Regents’ Academic Committee.
Board Action: NOTED
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2. Regent Senator Cayetano said she does not mind not having a staff inside the Board.
When there are important issues where she would like to have UP consultants, she could just request the Board to allow them inside only for the specific issue.
3. Chair Licuanan thanked the Regents for understanding and clarified that as a general rule, the Regents are welcome to bring assistants and staff for as long as they are not full time members of the UP community.
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Trip to Seoul, Korea, 15-17 September 2015
On 15 September, I presided the meeting of the Advisory Board of KoSASA (Korean Studies Association of Southeast Asia) of which I am the President for the biennium 2015-2016. KoSASA is a network of top universities in eight countries in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar). The network provides the platform for the member universities to engage in collaborations among themselves and with Korean
universities and institutions such as Korea Foundation (KF) and Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) in education and research in Korean Studies in the region. The Korean Research Institute at the New South Wales University (UNSW), Sydney, serves as the Secretariat of KoSASA.
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At the meeting, the Advisory Board formally invited Sookmyung Women's University, Korea, to join KoSASA as an institutional member and discussed the amendments to the KF-ASEAN Korea Studies Fellowship Program^ and the UNSW PhD Scholarship Program^ for the KoSASA member universities. I also briefed the Board about the 7^*^ KoSASA biennial International Conference that UP is hosting on 28-30 September 2016. The individual Board members reported on the plans and programs of their respective universities related to Korean studies. I informed the Board that UP was planning to establish a Korean Research Center for which UP was expecting seed funding from AKS. [UP received the seed funding of USD 41,632 from AKS on 25 October 2014.]
Just prior to the KoSASA Advisory Board meeting on 15 September, 1 paid a courtesy call on the President of the Korea Foundation (KF). At this meeting we two signed an amendment to the KF- ASEAN Korean Studies Fellowship Program. My signature was in my capacity as President of KoSASA.
On 16-17 September, I attended the AKS International Conference in Commemoration of the 70*^
Anniversary of Korea's Independence. At the opening ceremony and Presidents Forum, I delivered a keynote speech on the theme: Korea and Southeast Asia: Building Partnerships in Education. I emphasized the point that as vital as trade and security agreements and official development assistance are, it is still people who form the heart of international relations. I said that any discussion of Korea-Southeast Asia collaboration, particularly in education, should be grounded people-to-people relationships and that bilateral and multilateral agreements between Korea and the ASEAN and its member countries are just manifestations of a deepening appreciation of one another as regional neighbors and global partners. I
Several papers were presented by academics from KoSASA member universities, including one from UP Asian Center (Prof. Eduardo Gonzalez).
' The KF-ASEAN Fellowship Program for Korean Studies was established to foster new generations of Southeast Asian scholars in the field of Korean studies. A professor from the UP Virata School of Business got this fellowship award in 2014 for doctoral studies in Business Administration at Sookmyung Women's University.
" The UNSW PhD Scholarship program for KoSASA Member universities was established to support cooperation in research and education between UNSW and KoSASA member universities. One faculty member of UP was chosen in 2015 for this scholarship award.
On 8 September, I signed a memorandum of agreement with President Leonora Vasquez de Jesus of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) whereby UP grants PLM a non-exclusive right to use UP Manila's Computerized Registration System (CRS) for a period of 5 years. The CRS is a
computerized system for enrollment of students that also functions as a repository of the academic records of the students, including information on the classes they have taken and the grades in these classes. UP is now shifting to a more extensive and fully integrated information management system in all its campuses across the country as part of its strategic thrust towards operational excellence. Because the CRS is a useful standalone registration system, I decided to make it available for use by other higher education institutions as a public service initiative. PLM will be the first beneficiary and PLM's experience in customizing the CRS could facilitate its further adoption by more public colleges and universities.
Roundtable discussion with Chinese embassy officials
In response to a request from the Mr. Jin Yuan, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, I agreed to organize a roundtable discussion (RTD) between embassy officials and UP faculty members to exchange views on furthering the bilateral relations between the Philippines and China through economic and trade cooperation. The RTD was held on 9 September at the UP Board of Regents Room. The UP participants were CIDS Executive Director Edna Co; AVPAA Rhodora Azanza; School Economics Professor Emmanuel de Dios, Professor Maria Socorro Bautista, and Adjunct Professor Calla Wiemer; and Asian Center Professor Aileen Baviera. The Chinese Embassy officials included Economic and Commercial Counsellor Jin Yuan, Second Secretary Zhang Huaying (agriculture), Second Secretary Yang Ming (trade and exhibition). Third Secretary Zhu Min (project contracting, Chinese enterprises). Third Secretary Hou Jun (investments), and Attache Zhang Xianfeng (investment, information, website management). I also participated in the initial discussions.
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UPLB's PhD in Development Studies Program in UP Mindanao
On 11 September, I participated in the launch of UPLB's PhD in Development Studies Program in UP Mindanao. The program is expected to produce 5-7 PhD among the faculty of UP Mindanao, plus several trained policy makers for Mindanao. The UP System is underwriting the cost of the one-time offering of the program.
UP Budget 2016
We continue to defend in Congress UP's budget for 2016. The House plenary deliberation was held on 2 October, while the Senate Finance Committee hearing took place on 29 September. In both instances, we presented UP's additional priority items for funding in the 2016 GAA on top of the items committed by DBM in the 2016 National Expenditure Program (NEP). These proposed additions amount to PI.IB in Personal Services, another PI.IB in MOOE, and P1.7B in
infrastructure projects. The latter would include sports facilities in 3 CUs; student dormitories in 4 CUs and a student center in UP Diliman; STEAM-related projects in UPD and UPLB; the renovation and upgrade of the UP Main Library (Gonzales Hall), and the Phase 1 construction for the UP campus in the Clark Green City. i
On 8 October, I signed on behalf of UP an MOU for Eleksyon 2016 among GMA Network and partners that include the leading technological service providers, media organizations, academic institutions, legal and socio-civic groups, and election advocacy groups. The MOU brings together the partners in support of GMA's comprehensive coverage of the 2016 elections. UP is
negotiating with GMA a more specific agreement the will provide media exposure to the experts, studies and data, and other resources of the University to assist voters in making an informed choice.
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Inauguration of Confucius Institute UP Diliman
After a gestation period of over seven long years, we finally had a ceremonial inauguration of the the Confucius Institute (CI) in UP Diliman on 12 October. It was a well-attended event that was honored with the presence of the Chinese Ambassador, the President and other officials of Xiamen University (UP's designated partner for the CI), notable figures from the Chinese Filipino community led by former Regent Francis Chua, and officials from other Philippine schools that have a Confucius Institute of their own. UP Diliman's is the 5^^ CI in the Philippines, after those of Ateneo de Manila University (in QC and Makati), Bulacan State University, and Angeles University Foundation in Angeles City, Pampanga. An impressive cultural program was put up jointly by both parties - UP and Xiamen.
The formal agreements for the establishment of the CI in UP Diliman were signed on 7 December 2014 in Xiamen. I signed the agreement with Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters)
represented by it Executive Director, Vice Minister Xu Lin, while Chancellor Michael Tan signed the implementing agreement with Xiamen University (XMU) represented by its President, Prof. Zhu Chongzhi.
Drumming up for the UP ROTC Program
In the face of growing challenges from natural disasters and external security threats at the national level, certain sectors now clamor for reinvigorating the UP's ROTC program, which since 2002 has become just one of the options for college students under the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001. At the 13 October meeting of the President's Advisory Council (PAC), UP alumnus Mark Javier (UP ROTC Corps Commander 1967, UP Engineering graduate, and former President of Globe Telecom), made a presentation on the critical need for UP and other schools to pay attention to the flagging interest in military training among our youth.
Entry of Military Personnel in UP Diliman Campus
On 21 October, the UP Diliman Special Services Brigade (SSB) noticed suspicious activities in two sides of the campus: Roxas and Corregidor Streets near the College of Education and in the Sunken Garden. They were using two Toyota Innova vehicles. The SSB and the UP Diliman Police were able to question the men and one of them introduced himself as an AFP officer. He refused to divulge anymore information, and the other five men remained unidentified. The UP security personnel accompanied the 6 men to the QC police department.
The foregoing was a report made by UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan as part of his statement of concern on an unauthorized intrusion into the UP Diliman campus by military personnel—a statement I supported. The incident violated an Agreement between UP and the Department of
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"Prior notification shall be given by a commander of an AFP, PC-PNP, or Citizen's Armed Force Geographical Units (CAFGU) unit intending to conduct any military or police operations in any of the UP campuses in the constituent universities of U.P. Diliman, U.P. Manila, U.P. Los Bonos, and U.P. Visayos, or in any of the regional units in Baguio, San Fernando, Tacloban, Miag-ao and Cebu, to the U.P. President, or the Chancellor of the constituent university, or the dean of the regional unit concerned, or their respective officers-in-charge in the event of their absence, when the situation so warrants.''
On 27 October, the AFP expressed its apology in a statement sent to the media admitting that military personnel indeed entered UP and that it was a transparent operation that was properly coordinated with the local police. They claimed that there was no intent to violate the 1989 UP- DND Agreement. However, the AFP did not inform the UP Diliman Chancellor nor myself.
MOU with PCA re Coconut Seed Farm Development Project
On 26 October, I signed a memorandum of understanding with Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator Romulo N. Arancon, Jr., for a project that will promote the establishment of
Coconut Seed Farms in available and suitable areas in UP's land grant assets.
Other Activities
28 Aug - Gave the closing message at the joint awarding ceremony for UP Artists and UP Scientists at Ang Bahay ng Alumni
28 Aug - Attended a fund-raising concert for an ailing UP Diliman faculty member
29 Aug - Convened a UP Think Tank on Human Resource Development, at the BOR Room. The group was able to discuss different Human Resource gaps within the University and even Philippines in general, including the provision of better opportunities for competent facuity and graduates to minimize talent flight. The objective of the meeting was to begin UP's effort to lead in providing recommendations to the Philippine Government especially as a new administration comes in next year. This is highly relevant as we review our curriculum to make it more
competitive as the K-12 program is introduced in the country's basic education.
3 Sept - Gave the opening remarks at the "Occupation and Liberation: An International
Conference on the Pacific War in the Philippines", organized by the Department of History, CSSP, UP Diliman, held at the GT Toyota Asian Cultural Center Hall of Wisdom
3 Sept - Participated at the dinner-conversation on transnational education with the British Ambassador, held at the ambassador's residence in Forbes Park, Makati City
4 Sept-Joined the UP community and gave a speech at the opening ceremonies of UAAP Season 78 at the Araneta Coliseum
7 Sept - Delivered the keynote speech at the EU UNICRl Project 15 on Isolate Banking held in Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City. Title of speech: Strengthening the laboratory biosecurity
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7 Sept - Attended the 9^^ regular meeting of the AFP Multi Sector Governance Council (MSGC) 10 Sept - Discussed with Mr. Sid Garcia of Performance Arts Foundation, President Kingson Sian of Resorts World Manila, and the deans of UP Diliman's arts colleges regarding a proposed scholarship program for students in the Performing Arts
30 Sept - Gave the welcome remarks at the workshop held in Balay Kalinaw to launch a Department of Political Science's entitled project "Poverty Alleviation in the Wake of Typhoon Yolanda", a 3-year project with the University of Nottingham, UK and The University of
Notingham, Ningbo, with funding from the Economic and Social Research Council / Department of Foreign and International Development (UK).
5 Oct - spoke at a forum called "Balitaktakan and Engineering Conversations" held at the
Engineering Theater. Main topic was the eUP Project. This was a joint activity of the UP Diliman Student Council and the Engineering Student Council.
7 Oct - Handed out certificates of recognition to the following winners of the 2015 Metrobank Art
;and Design Excellence (MADE) awards: Arch. Gerard Thomas Joson, Grand Prize Awardee in Architecture and IDr. Melanie S. Botor, Grand Prize Awardee in Interior Design.
3 Oct - Delivered the opening remarks at the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day Academic Conference on the theme "Transitions, Trade and Transpacific Exchanges" held at the NISMED Auditorium.
9 Oct - Spoke at the 2"^ session on the Philippine Summit of Conscience for the Climate Change organized by Sen. Loren Legarda at the Senate.
14 Oct - Led a team of UP officials in discussing with AFP officials a possible partnership with UP in the design of instruments and mechanisms for the assessment of AFP's training and educational programs, the participation of UP professors in external panels for the conduct of quality
assurance assessment of the curricula and other aspects of these programs, and the development of the general education faculty of the Philippine Military Academy.
15 Oct - Attended a dinner hosted by Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa at his residence in Makati City.
16 Oct - Gave a talk at St. Paul College's Alternative Class Program 2015 on the theme: My Profession, My Passion, My Service to the Nation
17 Oct - Gave the opening remarks at CenPEG's book launch of Prof. Roland G. Simbulan's "The World is a Classroom: Reflections of a Fellow Traveler" held at the Consunji Room, Ang Bahay ng Alumni.
19 Oct - Rendered the opening remarks at this year's BSP-UP Professorial Chair Lectures held at the BSP Complex in Manila. The Chairholder-Lecturers were from the Virata School of Business, the School of Statistics and the School of Economics.
22 Oct - Delivered the welcome remarks at the Department of Political Science's Academic Conference, held at the Recto Hall, on the theme: "Ang Agham Pampulitika sa Pilipinas:
IsandaangTaon ng Pagtuturo, Pananaliksik at Paglilingkod", as one of the activities to celebrate its centennial year.
26 Oct - Addressed the VSB alumni at the oath-taking of its newly elected board of trustees of the UPCB Alumni Association, headed by former Senator Manuel B. Villar, Chairman and President, 27 Oct - Rendered an inspirational message at the forum and launch of a book by former Prof.
Vivencio Jose on Antonio Luna held in CM Recto Hall at the Faculty Center
28 Oct - Gave the keynote speech at the 6^^ International Conference on Asia-Pacific Library and Information Education and Practice (ALIEP), which is being hosted by UP for the first time. The event was held at the PICC and attended by several foreign participants.
28 Oct - Awarded certificates of recognition to the winning team from UP Diliman of the Geneva Challenge 2015, specifically "The Advancing Development Goals International Contest for
Graduate Students", hosted by the Graduate Institute of Geneva. This year's theme was on how return migration could contribute to social and economic development. The team members include Ms. Frances Cruz, Ms. Janina Clare Tan, and Mr. Yvan Ysmael Yonaha.
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OFFICE OF THE FACULTY REGENT
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Faculty Regent Report 29 October 2015
1. Evidenced-based Planning for Resilient Local Health Systems (rEBaP) during Disasters Program (UNICEF Funded)
A. Both UP Manila School o f Health Sciences in Palo, Leyte and UP Visayas finished all the modules on rEBaP (4 modules) for all the Yolanda-affected LGUs in Samar, Leyte, Iloilo, Capiz, and Cebu.
B. The 6'^ Partners meeting held in Iloilo City on Sept 22, 2015 with UPV as the host.
C. The Faculty Regent and the rest of the UPV team will start the second round of coaching and mentoring the Municipal Health Officers (MHOs) and Municipal Planning and Development Officers (MPDO) of Iloilo, Capiz, and Cebu Municipalities next month for their fmal Health Emergency Response, Recovery, and Rehabilitation Plans (HERRRP).
2. Academic Quality Assurance and ASEAN University Network (AUN) accreditation:
A. The System Committee met last Aug. 28, 2015 and Sept 24, 2015 for the update on the next steps for the establishment of the QA office in the different CUs. The committee has reviewed the criteria used by UP, PAASCU, Washington Accords for Engineering, and AUN. The committee will now consolidate the data on UP lAADS and try to fmd the equivalent points for Washington Accords for Engineering and AUN. The UP System QA committee has already visited UPV last Oct. 26, 2015 for the fu-st consultation and lAADS coaching. A l l the rest of the CUs will be visited this November.
3. UP Campus consultation visits. |
A. The Faculty Regent had a consultation meeting with UPV in Miag ao (morning) and Iloilo City (afternoon) campus on Aug 20, 2015. Some of the faculty concerns are the land acquisition status of UPV Miag ao and the status of the land use plan for the city campus, eUP, health
^ insurance for UP employees, and promotions.