As part of its continuous efforts to enhance educational quality and institutional practices, Biliran Province State University conducted a benchmarking visit at Caraga State University (CSU) on August 20-21, 2024. This marks BiPSU’s second benchmarking activity this quarter, following a visit to Sorsogon State University on August 8-9, 2024.

The benchmarking session centered on seven strategic areas, including office resource generation and management systems, technology transfer and intellectual property, industry linkages and internationalization, research and extension, laboratory facilities and procurement, hiring and faculty development, and curriculum revisions with an emphasis on faculty loading for the Graduate School.

Members of the benchmarking team included University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr., Vice Presidents Dr. Susan S. Bentor, Dr. Erwin Salvatierra, Dr. Rossini Pitao, and Dr. Roland Niez; Dr. Concepcion Gayrama, Chief Administrative Officer- Administration; Atty. Pahmi Hadji Ampaso, CAO- Finance; all deans, directors, and the presidential management team.

Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil, CSU president, welcomed the BiPSU delegation. He proudly shared their university’s accomplishments as he provided an introduction to their university’s programs and initiatives.

“It is with great honor to share with you that we (CSU) have set sail to achieve our vision of being a world- class digital, innovative and entrepreneurial university,” he acknowledged.

CSU is among the only five State Universities in Mindanao classified as SUC Level 4 and one of the only 20 Level IV SUCs in the Philippines during the SUC Leveling conducted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Dr. Daguil took pride on this and revealed that CSU’s accomplishments are anchored by their LIKHA agenda, which stands for Launchpad of global talents and innovators, Interdependence, and High Impact Coalition, Knowledge Co- Creation and Commercialization, hub for academic excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship and Accelerated administrative system and digital transformation.

Meanwhile, Eng. Jeffrey T. Dellosa, Vice President for Research, Innovation and Extension (VPRIE) of CSU discussed the university’s LIKHA Agenda, focusing on three components such  printing, product development, and product marketing. "Our practices have traditionally been documented in papers, but we are now transitioning to bring all our services online," Prof. Vergara explained. The agenda also emphasizes infrastructure development through long-term leases, which he described as "public-private partnerships that go beyond”.

CSU’s research agenda and extension programs were also  highlighted, showcasing the university’s ranking as No. 46 in the country and its top position in the Caraga region for research. "We are proud of our achievements, including our QS ranking of two stars in research as of 2021," Dr. Dellosa added.

Discussions also included CSU’s ongoing curriculum revisions and faculty development programs. "Our strategy is to encourage new faculty to join research teams, enhancing our academic offerings and faculty expertise," said Dr. Fernando T. Herrera, CSU’s VP for Academic Affairs. CSU’s efforts in faculty hiring and development, including its Level 2 PRIME HRM accreditation by the Civil Service Commission, were also highlighted.

The visit featured an open forum where participants discussed topics such as faculty incentives, auditing processes, and strategies for encouraging new faculty to join research teams.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Dr. Canezo shared his aspirations. "I hope that my team, while we are here, will also envision how we can make BiPSU as exemplary as Caraga State University," he said.

Hon. Vennie Coton, BiPSU Faculty Regent and the Acting Dean of the School of Criminal Justice Education (SME), praised CSU’s welcoming environment. "CSU is now part of the BiPSU’s 'Weaving of Worthiness,' a testament to its commitment to academic excellence and collaboration," he said.

The benchmarking activity concluded with the awarding of a plaque of appreciation to CSU. Dr. Cañezo expressed his appreciation for CSU’s hospitality. "The insights we gained here will be invaluable as we continue to develop and improve BiPSU’s programs," the University President said.

In addition to the benchmarking discussions, the BiPSU delegation had the opportunity to visit CSU’s HERO Learning Commons, the largest and most innovative state university library in Mindanao. The HERO Learning Commons is designed to cater to the needs of diverse learners, with each floor offering unique services and spaces. It is the first library in the Philippines to feature library locator maps, an automated book drop system, nap pads, and a decision theater. The library also includes an auditorium, exhibit area, coffee shop, museum, and activity center, among other modern spaces.

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