The 2025 College of Human Ecology (CHE) Next Gen Annual Planning Workshop embraced the “Integration for Impact” theme to emphasize collaborative interactions with its internal and external communities in co-producing meaningful and positive changes. 

The CHE workshop, held on April 10-11, 2025, at Hotel Kimberly, Tagaytay, aimed to foster a holistic vision that enhances internal structures and strengthens social connections. 

Central to this exploration is the vital concept of integration that bridges diverse disciplines and engages with external stakeholders to ensure that academic pursuits resonate in real-world contexts.

Dean Amparo welcomed the participants and presented the planning workshop’s objectives and vision. 

She defined and discussed the value of Integration for Impact. According to her, the CHE employee profile, its Internal Academic Assessment and Development results, and its contributions to achieving SDG goals and AGORA focus areas through its research and extension initiatives reflected integration. She challenged CHE to work on areas where the college still needs to create value and impact. 

Next, Dean Amparo tackled the importance of KalingangCHE or CHE’s brand of ‘culture of care’. According to her, it is essential to prioritize the holistic well-being of both its internal and external stakeholders. 

“Our Filipino values of malasakit and pakikipagkapwa-tao must remain foundational in our work. These values enrich our identity and reaffirm our commitment to building a college community rooted in empathy, trust, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging,” Amparo said.

CHE also introduced an innovative activity, the “CHEck sa Step” Challenge, which encouraged participants to become more active during the program by integrating physical movement into their daily routines. 

Using a step-counting app, the participant consolidated their total number of steps as a way to ensure that everyone stayed engaged and motivated. The top-performing group and individuals were recognized during the closing program. 

An engaging and interactive “fireside chat” session—Muni-muni at Kape (MMK) Session—followed. Selected recipients of outstanding employee awards from the College shared their insights and inspirations on creating impact, promoting collaboration and partnership through integration, and intentions for work-life balance. 

The participants discussed with each other their lived and shared experiences in the college and how they practiced their profession in a manner that exemplified honor and excellence in serving the nation. 

Dr Rita Mae Ang Bon, CHE extension coordinator, and Dr. Irma U. Danao, project development associate of the CHE Office of the College Secretary, moderated the sessions. 

The resource speakers included members of the CHE executive committee, faculty members, and administrative staff—Associate Dean Faye Nguyen-Orca, Dr. Ma Theresa Talavera, Dr. Clarissa Juanico, Dr. Casper Agaton, Vera Angeles, Ron Dangcalan, Ann Cayetano, Dr Liezl Atienza, Dr. Efraim Roxas, and Eljohn Batas.

Dr. Grace Aguiling Dalisay, president and chief executive officer of the Center for Educational Measurement and a retired faculty member and former dean of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy at UP Diliman, discussed “Culture of Care in Higher Education Institutions.”

Dr Dalisay shared various global and regional well-being frameworks and models. She anchored the “Culture of Care” in Sikolohiyang Pilipino and the Filipino context of social interaction, particularly in the value of ‘malasakit.’

A workshop ensued after the presentation where groups did a deep dive into the factors affecting the culture of care in the college, dubbed as “KalingangCHE”, as well as ‘kaligtasan’ (safety and security), ‘komunidad,’ (connectedness and belonging) and ‘kabuluhan’ (meaning and agency)

Christina Schönleber, chief strategy officer of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), discussed “Strategic Research and Partnerships for Impact.” Schönleber explained how the “wheel of impact” maximizes the university’s relevance and value by connecting with real-world applications. 

The “wheel of impact” encompasses the four modes of impact perceptions of academic experts from APRU—instrumental (policy influence, practical solutions), conceptual (knowledge sharing and shaping perspectives), capacity building (skills development and empowerment), and network building (collaborative partnerships and alumni network). 

Schönleber also discussed the various partnership pathways of APRU and how these co-create meaningful value and solutions for communities. Schönleber further talked about important considerations in partnerships, particularly Engagement and Outputs to Impact, and challenges in implementing these. The succeeding group workshop focused on identifying CHE’s various impact themes, sectors, and areas.

Dr. Efraim Roxas, chair of the CHE Research Ethics Committee, also presented the college’s initial framework and plans for Undergraduate Research Ethics. Dr. Rufo Gil Albor, CHE college secretary, and Nguyen-Orca gave the synthesis and closing remarks, respectively.

The final activity was a gamified version of the workshop to map out CHE’s integration and impact pathways with its units, partner agencies, and communities. This project emphasized the theme “Integration for Impact.” 

Participants were divided into 10 groups, with each group tasked with completing various challenges to identify CHE units’ R&E initiatives, zero in on their impacts and impact metrics, and suggest critical elements for a more unified logo and branding of CHE. 

The outputs of the various challenges will be consolidated to map out the critical impact pathways of the college in strengthening core integrated function performance in co-producing solutions with communities.

In her closing remarks, Nguyen-Orca shared that the annual planning workshop proved to be a significant and transformative event, with the participants engaging in meaningful discussions centered around integration, collaboration, and well-being, resulting in valuable insights and a renewed commitment to effecting positive change with CHE’s communities. (Eunice del Rosario)