Aimed at retooling and upgrading the skills of guidance coordinators, BiPSU, through its Guidance and Counseling Services Office (GCSO), conducted a three-day capability training from February 26–29 at the university hostel.

With the theme, "Retooling of Guidance Coordinators for Psychosocial Support Services and Basic Career Coaching," the  event focused on upgrading the skills of guidance coordinators to provide better psychosocial support and career guidance while helping students make informed decisions about their career paths and courses to reduce confusion and prevent burnout or course changes.

In her opening remarks, Mrs. Jocelyn Caing, GCSO chairperson, highlighted the importance of the training and its relevance to their role in the university.

"As guidance coordinators, you have an important role in helping students make informed career choices, especially with all the challenges they face today, so I really encourage you to take this training seriously—it’s key to the work you do here," she said.

The event kicked off with Dr. Mae V. Cañal led the first session, addressing the psychosocial needs of students, focusing on adolescent development, stress, anxiety, and peer pressure, followed by a second session where she discussed building resilience through techniques such as counseling methods, active listening, and empathy.  The first day of the training ended with a workshop where participants, guided by Dr. Cañal, designed psychosocial support programs aimed at different student populations, such as at-risk youth and students with trauma.

Shifting to Day 2, the theme focused on career guidance, where Dr. Cherie Guy B. Giray led a session on career development stages, lifelong learning, and employability skills, followed by a demonstration led by Zyra Niña C. Cabugayan, RPm, who provided practice in interpreting results from tools like the Holland Code, Strengths Finder, and Work Values Inventory; and a workshop on conducting career coaching sessions with senior high and college students.

On the final day, the focus shifted on integrating psychosocial support with career coaching, with participants engaging in group discussions and action planning to develop school-based implementation plans.  Said event concluded with schools presenting their plans, sharing strategies for creating comprehensive guidance programs that would benefit their students.

In an interview, Jenny Genoguin, a faculty and guidance coordinator of STED, mentioned that the event helped her gain new skills to better assist students, which will ultimately create a more supportive environment for both the students and the institution.

"The event has given me the skills to better guide students in their personal and career development, which will not only help them succeed but also contribute to a more supportive and successful environment for the entire institution,” she said

 “I am also very thankful to the Guidance and Counseling Services Office for conducting this and to the administration for supporting this kind of event," added Genoguin. 

[This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education.]