The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office VIII and the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) visited Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) – Naval Campus on May 26 as part of a research study on employment services in higher education institutions.

The joint site visit forms part of the ongoing research project titled "Role of Job Placement Offices (JPOs) as Strategic Partners in Public Employment Services and Industry-Driven Employment." The initiative aims to assess the performance of Job Placement Offices (JPOs) and their role in enhancing youth employment through industry-aligned services.

During the half-day engagement, BiPSU Job Placement Officer Dr. Miguel Supremo, Jr. presented the university's best practices in JPO operations, highlighting its service delivery mechanisms, operational capacity, and effectiveness in facilitating employment opportunities—especially for young graduates.

The evaluation also covered BiPSU’s active collaborations with industry partners and its innovative employment strategies that could be replicated in other academic institutions nationwide.

The ILS delegation was composed of Senior Labor and Employment Officer (LEO) Athena Mari S. Son, LEO Aldrine F. Anzures, and Eva A. Nelmida. From DOLE Regional Office VIII, attendees included Karmela de la Sierra, Pablo Merin, and Dominica Secorata.

In a courtesy meeting, University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. discussed how the university’s implementation of the two-shift class system has expanded opportunities for student employment.

"By integrating half-day in-person classes and Open and Distance e-Learning (ODeL), our students now have the flexibility to work during the other half of the day," he shared. "Some of our students have even secured jobs as virtual assistants abroad."

BiPSU’s two-shift system combines traditional face-to-face classes with ODeL sessions, reducing daily in-class hours to four or five. This setup provides students and faculty additional time for academic research, self-directed learning, and extracurricular involvement.

Dr. Cañezo emphasized that this innovative system not only enhances academic engagement but also plays a crucial role in promoting youth employment.

[This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.]