“With stresses and uncertainties, it is therefore important that we have to future-proof our university – to lay down the strong foundation to anticipate and to adapt to change.”

Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. made this call to UPLB officials as he opened the UPLB Strategic Planning Workshop that was held on June 9-10 via two modes – onsite at Sierra Pines Hotel in Baguio City, and online via web conferencing.

Chancellor Camacho emphasized the urgency to future-proof the university’s systems and processes in light of the on-going and upcoming challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the current socio-economic conditions, which have all affected and shaped the higher education landscape in the country.

“We have to confront these challenges head-on with sheer determination and strong resolve,” Chancellor Camacho maintained, as he set the tone of the workshop that sought to consolidate and unify the recent accomplishments and plans of various executive offices and colleges to future-proof UPLB’s lifelong learning and instruction system, research and innovation, global engagement, public service mission, operations efficiency, and stakeholder engagement.

During the workshop, the six vice chancellors and 11 deans presented their respective plans to future-proof the instruction, student welfare, research, extension, administrative operations, and infrastructure under their leadership and as aligned with Chancellor Camacho’s overall vision for the university.

They also reported to the body their accomplishments in line with future-proofing the university since this administration took office in November 2020.

The workshop served as a venue to introduce some of the innovations that will soon unfold in the university. 

Interactive Learning Center Director Edmund Centeno presented the proposed UPLB Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning; UPLB Digital Transformation Team Vice Chair Leslie Bolaños discussed the immediate future of UPLB’s information systems; and Deans Rico Ancog and Rowena Baconguis provided an overview of UPLB’s Research and Extension Agenda.

Gracing the event onsite were UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, UP Regent and Baguio City Representative Mark Go, and UP Regent Angelo Jimenez, who all enjoined the UPLB officials to confront the predicted future of higher education in the form of flexible and blended learning.

President Concepcion particularly cited his general call for the UP constituent universities (CUs) to establish associate programs that will train the future human resources of the country, and his specific challenge for UPLB to increase its enrollment in agricultural sciences.

Online, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista and Vice President for Planning and Development Elvira Zamora, respectively, updated the UPLB officials about the on-gong policies and future direction of UP in terms of curriculum and infrastructure development.

Seventeen UPLB officials joined the onsite event, while 25 took part in the workshop virtually.

After the two-day planning workshop, Chancellor Camacho and the onsite participants paid a courtesy visit to recently appointed UP Baguio Chancellor Corazon Abansi. The visit also served as a collaborative meeting of representatives of the two CUs. Chancellor Abansi is a UPLB alumna who finished her BS, MS, and PhD Agricultural Economics from UPLB.

On the same day, June 11, Chancellor Camacho, President Concepcion, Regent Jimenez, and a number of UPLB officials also discussed plans to offer off-campus graduate degree and training programs at the UPLB Baguio Satellite Station in Brgy. Pacdal. 

Joining this meeting was Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera Administrative Region. (Mark Jayson E. Gloria)