Meet the new UPOU FEd Program Chairs

Dr. Maria Dalisay G. Maligalig and Dr. Jomar F. Rabajante, affiliate faculty members of the Faculty of Education (FEd), University of the Philippines Open University were named as the new Program Chairs of Diploma in Science Teaching (DST) and Diploma in Mathematics Teaching (DMT), respectively. DST and DMT were two of FEd’s post-baccalaureate diploma programs.

Dr. Maligalig has been appointed as the new Diploma in Science Teaching (DST) Program Chair effective 1 August 2019. She started at UPOU in 2011 as an affiliate assistant professor and handled BIO 220 – Chemical Physiology in the PhD in Education program (Biology Education). Since 2014, she has been a member of the Doctoral Comprehensive Examination Committee for Biology Education and recently, she has been a member of the UPOU University Council – Committee on Admission and Graduation representing the Faculty.

Dr. Maligalig finished her Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry at UP Los Baños where she also obtained her Master and Bachelor of Science in Zoology. At present, she is working as an Associate Professor 1 at the Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Los Baños.

Dr. Maligalig has published book chapters and research studies in various journals such as Philippine Journal of Science and International Journal of Toxicological and Pharmacological Research. She also presented her research papers both local and international. Her research interests include vertebrate physiology, biochemistry, toxicology and endocrinology.

On the other hand, Dr. Rabajante, an Associate Professor at the Mathematics Division, Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics (IMSP), UP Los Baños is the newly appointed Program Chair of the Diploma in Mathematics Teaching (DMT) effective 2 September 2019.

Dr. Rabajante finished his Doctor of Science in Mathematical and Systems Engineering in 2016 from Shizuoka University, Japan. He had his Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from UP Diliman and his Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from UP Los Baños. He also obtained a Professional Certificate in Online Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.

Currently, he is recognized as UP Scientist 1 since 2017 and a recipient of One UP Professorial Chair for Outstanding Teaching and Research for 2019-2021. He also has a current appointment as a Junior Associate at the Quantitative Life Sciences Group of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy. He has published book chapters and research studies cited in several Thomson Reuters-indexed and other journals such as the Philippine Science Letters, International Journal of Social Sciences, International Journal of Applied Mathematical Research and Journal of Nature Studies. His research interests include mathematical modeling of complex biological and social systems.

The Faculty of Education is offering Diploma in Science Teaching, a post-baccalaureate degree program with majors in Biology, Chemistry and Physics designed to address the need for teachers to develop the breadth and depth of content knowledge in science courses. The Diploma in Mathematics Teaching program, on the other hand, aims to upgrade the mathematics and pedagogical competencies of mathematics teachers in secondary schools, as well as those engaged in the mathematics curriculum and materials development. The complete curriculum of these programs is posted in FEd’s website.

As the Program Chairs, they are responsible in providing assistance to the Dean in the program management and development and in coordinating program faculty and student concerns. (RMDeocampo)