In line with its efforts in strengthening its internationalization initiatives, Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lincoln University College (LUC) of Malaysia last August 23.

The collaborative partnership was instituted to foster a friendly relationship through mutual cooperation in teaching, research, and extension activities between BiPSU and LUC.

With his commendable performance and management prowess especially during the time of pandemic, Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) president, Dr. Victor C. Canezo, Jr, has been recognized internationally during the 2021 UNIFFIED International Virtual Summit held last July 17 as a recipient of the Outstanding Leadership in Education Award.

Themed “Empowering Educators for the Challenges of the 21st century”, the said summit aimed at recognizing leaders who have made a positive and notable differences during his/her career.

The United Federation of Fil-Am Educators (UNIFFIED) is the largest and nonprofit Filipino-American Educators Association, a multi-service organization based in the United State of America. Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Philippines, as an organization founded in March 2014 which aims to provide educators professional growth opportunities, render charitable services to communities that promote the welfare of the citizens.

In an interview with Mr. Ernesto Pamolarco Jr, member of UNIFFIED and a BiPSU alumnus, he mentioned that the president has been nominated for the said award in great consideration of his initiatives and invaluable service for the university.

“He well-deserved such recognition for his many accomplishments as an educator, particularly making BiPSU ranked 26th as one of the best State Universities in World in Crisis Management and one of the recipients of the Smart Campus. He has done so many things at BiPSU such as physical, academic and research development,” he added.

NAVAL, Biliran- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved Biliran Province State University’s Smart Campus proposal amounting to Php 22,934,835.00.

BiPSU is among the 89 out of 112 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the country who submitted proposals, approved by the commission, eligible for financial assistance for the establishment of smart campus as presented by Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III, CHED Chairperson, during the Virtual Press Conference on Smart Campus Projects and Updates on Limited Face-to-Face Classes held last June 24.

BiPSU’s smart campus project entitled “Upgrading of BiPSU’s Internet Connectivity and Campus Area Network for the Delivery of Quality and Efficient Educational Services” is a hybrid project which includes Campus Area Network and Learning Management System (LMS) improvement aimed at securing the Internet connectivity, ease of access to student records to improve the functionality, efficiency, quality, and impact of the services provided by the #WOWBiPSU Moodle-based LMS.

“This smart campus project and initiative of the university addresses the institution’s concern on internet connectivity which is very important in the implementation of flexible learning. Unique among other smart campus projects, BiPSU’s project will not only cover provision of stronger internet connection within its campuses but will also provide internet connectivity to the established municipal learning kiosks in the province and neighboring towns in Leyte,” Dr. Reymon Santianez, Management Information System (MIS) personnel and project leader said.

According to Dr. Santianez, this approved project will provide equipment and facilities for the improvement of the internet connectivity not only in the institution but in the municipalities where academic kiosks are located for its students and faculty. Moreover, this also includes the improvement of the current Learning Management System of the university.

“We are grateful and humbled to be among the universities in the country to be granted with this financial assistance from CHED. Our sincerest thanks to the commission, especially to Dr. J. Prospero E De Vera III and Commissioner Aldrin A. Darilag for this approval. This grant is very instrumental in the improvement of our implementation of flexible learning deliveries,” Dr. Victor C. Canezo, Jr., University President said.

Dr. Canezo, also expressed his appreciation to the employees who worked closely with the administration in the preparations of the said project for BiPSU. He further emphasized that this initiative is geared towards the institution’s transition to becoming, not only a smart campus, but also a smart university.

On the other hand, the smart campus initiative of CHED is in line with the RA 11494, otherwise known as the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act”, specifically under Section 10 (i) which appropriated “three billion pesos (P 3,000,000,000.00) to assist SUCs in the development of smart campuses through investments in ICT infrastructure, acquisition of learning management systems and other appropriate equipment to fully implement flexible learning modalities.”

The search is on for Region 8’s Outstanding Flexible Learning Teacher.

Aiming to recognize the exemplary performance of the teachers in flexible learning delivery, the Eastern Visayas Higher Education Institutions- Flexible Learning Management System Consortium, the Philippine Association of State Universities and  Colleges (PASUC) 8, and the Commission on Higher Education-Regional Office 8 (CHED-RO8) officially launched the Search for the Outstanding Flexible Learning (FL) Teachers in Eastern Visayas.

Highlighting the celebration of the 1st National Higher Education Day last May 19 at the Visayas State University, BiPSU President and EVHEIs-FLMSC Chairperson Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. led the launching of the said award. 

“This initiative mainly anchored on the premise of recognizing the selfless dedication of educators who have been in the frontline of the flexible learning implementation amidst this pandemic,” Dr. Cañezo, who is also the chair of the award, said.

He added that this award would bring out the commendable and diverse stories of excellence among the teachers in the region and affirmed that the consortium is looking forward to a better and quality implementation of flexible learning in the region.

"Simply put, this regional award is expected to flesh out the picture of what it takes to be a teacher who is responsive to the pandemic pedagogy and is positioned to serve as a springboard for feedback for the continual improvement of flexible learning schemes across the Eastern Visayas," he said.

Premised on the “5G Model Approach of Excellence in Flexible Learning” developed by Dr. Edizon A. Fermin of National Teachers College, the award will be the first in the region to be given to faculty members who embody the 5G – Ganda, Galing, Gahum, Giliw, and Ganda.

The said model is the framework in the formulation of the guidelines, mechanics, and criteria in assessing and evaluating the nominees. Dr. Fermin, who is also a member of CHED Advisory Council on Flexible Learning and Co-Chairman CHED Technical Panel in Teacher Education, explained that ‘Ganda’ pertains to the educator’s excellence in determining the most appropriate flexible learning design and delivery for specific learners; 'Galing' refers to the teacher's ability to address learners’ concerns on flexibility in engagement in terms of pace, place, process, and products of learning; 'Gahum' means establishing, negotiating and implementing rules, regulations, and routines that foster learner motivation and agency; 'Giliw' build and nurture connectedness with learners and other education stakeholders in order to sustain engagement despite the challenges of remote learning; and ‘Gugma’ foster and sustain a genuine love for learning and for reaching out to others with care and compassion given the challenges posed by remote learning.

The teachers who will apply or nominated by the SUC President will vie on the three categories based on the number of years in service namely: Outstanding Flexible Rookie Teacher, Outstanding Flexible Junior Teacher, and Outstanding Flexible Senior Teacher, and will receive cash prizes, certificates and a plaque of recognition during the awarding tentatively scheduled on December this year.

Ten outstanding teachers will be awarded in every category in the different educational disciplines such as Agriculture, Fishery, and Marine Biology, Humanities, and Communication, Engineering, Teacher Education, Social Sciences, Health Education, Science and Mathematics, Technology and Computer Sciences, Accounting, Business, and Management, Maritime Education, and Law.

Biliran Province State University officially launched its institutional Strategic Planning activity for Fiscal Year 2022 dubbed as “Strategic Planning for the fiscal year (FY) 2022: The Weaving of Worthiness Continues”, yesterday via zoom conferencing.

Amidst the challenges of the new normal in the delivery of instruction, the Biliran Province State University- School of Nursing and Health Sciences continues to weave worthiness as it produced 9 (nine) new licensed nurses.

With a passing rate of 73% for first-time takers, surpassing the national passing percentage of 64.65%, 9 graduates of BiPSU successfully made it during the 2021 Nursing Licensure Examination last July 3-4.

Among these new nurses from BiPSU are Adoptante, Michelle, Amen, Mela, Ampong, Brian John, Aringoy, Ruth, Avila, Princess Grace, Onio, Jerry, Opiniano, Alevir, Paghubasan, Veronica, and Tymico, Marycris.

"BiPSU's School of Nursing and Health Sciences performed exceptionally well on the 2021 Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE). The BSN Class of 2020 has undeniably proven its worth! Despite the postponement and challenges posed by the CoVid-19 pandemic, they remained resilient. They never doubted their ability to achieve their goals of becoming Licensed Nurse Practitioners through hard work and prayer," Dr. Jovy Dia R. Saniel, SNHS dean said in an interview.

She also expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the BiPSU administration and the faculty and staff of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences who never ceased in supporting and guiding graduates throughout most of their R.N. journey.

"The School of Nursing and Health Sciences will continue to provide high-quality nursing education to the University and Province of Biliran, exemplifying its successful nurse examinees," she added.

After being hailed as 26th Placer in the World Universities with Real Impact (WURI) ranking last June 10, Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) receives another accolade as it joins the Top 200 of the most popular Universities in the entire country.

In the 2021 Ranking of Philippines Universities released recently by UniRank, an international higher education search engine and directory reviewing accredited institutions in the world, BiPSU ranked 164th this year, 13 steps higher from rank 177 in 2020.

In an article posted in the UniRank website, the said ranking entity wrote that universities can only be ranked if they meet the criteria including (1) being chartered, licensed or accredited by the appropriate Philippine higher education-related organization, (2) offering at least four-year undergraduate degrees (bachelor degrees) or postgraduate degrees (master or doctoral degrees), and (3) delivering courses predominantly in a traditional, face-to-face, non-distance education format.

In a record from CHED in 2019, there are 2,393 total Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including satellite campuses of State Universities and Colleges, in the country. However, only 232 this year qualified for the said national ranking.

Meanwhile, WURI is the first global innovative university ranking and was created to stimulate and evaluate universities' flexible and innovative efforts to foster the workforce that meets the demand from industry and society. Universities to be ranked need to apply for either all or any of the following areas: Industrial Application, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Ethical Value, Student Mobility and Openness, and Crisis Management.

BiPSU which ranked 26th in the Crisis Management category, was assessed in its schemes and initiatives in dealing with external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic to thrive rather than just to survive.

Congratulations Biliran Province State University for this back-to-back recognition headed by the ever-proactive and visionary University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr.!

Truly, another wow for BiPSU.

#WoWBiPSU

The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a massive blow to how educational institutions deliver and facilitate learning. The traditional means of teaching and learning, which involve face-to-face classes, are no longer considered viable pedagogical approaches. This unprecedented reality has forced State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to resort to what we now commonly hear, and others, unfortunately, misunderstand, "Flexible Learning (FL)"— an approach that employs a combination of digital and non-digital technology which does not necessarily require internet connection (Magsambol, 2021).

Fifteen (15) faculty members and eighteen (18) students from the different schools/departments of Biliran Province State University participated the 5^th International Social Business Summer Program (ISBSP), in partnership with the Daffodil International University in Bangladesh, which started last August 14.

"While the future is uncertain, organizations should invest in mechanisms to help design and innovate boldly, but responsibly."

This is true for Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) as it hosted a Foresight and Futures-Thinking (FFT) training dubbed as ‘Leading from the Future: A Two-Day Strategic Foresight Masterclass’ participated by university executives and key leaders last July 12-13 via Zoom.

According to Mr. Joedel Peñaranda, Institutional Planning Officer and the lead organizer of the event, aside from providing a springboard for university officials toward greater understanding and eventual application of FFT in the institution, conducting the two-day masterclass will also prepare BiPSU in its creation of a FFT center in the region.

“This activity could also serve as preliminary preparations for an establishment of a Center for Strategic Foresight and Futures Studies in the region,” Peñaranda said.

During the training, participants undergone series of plenary sessions in: (1) What is and Why Futures Thinking?, (2) What is and Why Strategic  Foresight, Anticipatory Leadership and Governance?, (3) What is the Association of Professional Futurists Six Critical Steps to Building Anticipatory Leadership and Governance?, (4) Learning how to use powerful strategic foresight tools and methods, (5) Present and discuss strategic foresight case studies in university and food futures, and (6) Consolidate insights and determine the next steps for BiPSU’s futures thinking program and research agenda.

The masterclass convened three of the finest futurists in the country including the Lead Trainer Prof. Shermon Cruz who currently Chairs the Association of Professional Futurists, the largest professional foresight association in the world with a membership of 500 professional foresight practitioners and experts in over 50 countries and the Director and a Futurist at Center for Engaged Foresight (CEF).

During a coordination meeting with BiPSU last May 10, Professor Shermon O. Cruz, said that BiPSU’s collaboration with CEF in hosting a masterclass will help the institution in introducing, immersing, exposing and increasing the anticipatory knowledge among its Executive Leadership.

“This is curated to provide key leadership and key officials with the necessary working knowledge and insight to use futures as an asset, resource, and tool to change and transform today,” Prof. Cruz added.

Joining also the pool of futurist-trainers are Ms. Shiela R. Castillo, a Futures Learning Advisor at the CEF, and Mr. Emmanuela De Guia, a resident futurist at the Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovations, and Futures Thinking (SDGIFT).

On the other hand, Cabinet Secretary and co-chair of the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Karlo Alexei B. Nograles was also invited in the activity. In his audio-visual message, he encouraged the participants of the masterclass to ‘make the most of it’ as it will provide a great opportunity for intensive mentorship and leadership enhancement, advocacy sharpening and project creation to align with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

Sec. Nograles also mentioned that the masterclass is proof of the vital need to keep on learning, making time for learning from each other and exploring possibilities with the ultimate goal of serving the people for the better.

Meanwhile, in his message during the opening of the activity, University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. expressed his confidence on the positive outcome of the event, and said that it is relevant since BiPSU is preparing for the Institutional Strategic Planning for the fiscal year 2022.

“I’m confident that this 2-day masterclass will help us arm ourselves with the indispensable skills and information to navigate the future that awaits BiPSU,” Dr. Canezo added.

He also looked forward to more endeavors relative to future’s thinking, considering that university has been officially announced by Philippine Futures Thinking Society as an its Institutional Member, one among the seven (7) member institutions in the country.