The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) organized a summit entitled “Transforming UPOU into a Healthy, Nurturing and Transformative University: From Summit to Action” on 26 June 2018 at the UPOU Centennial Center for Digital Learning (CCDL), Los Baños, Laguna . The summit was UPOU’s response to the call for UP as a national university to not only promote honor and excellence but to also provide a nurturing and healthy environment for its students. The summit was part of UPOU’s action plan which was committed during the system-wide Summit on Transforming UP into a Nurturing and Healthy University held on April 19 and 20, 2018 at the UP Professional Schools Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
An overview of the pre-summit, UP Summit and UPOU’s crafted action plans during these summits was presented by Dr. Joane Serrano, Director of the Information Office, who represented the Chancellor at the events.
Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria gave the welcome message during the activity. She cited that the actions that are expected to be achieved in the summit involve four things — two of which are the need to customize the UP Summit in UPOU’s context, and the fact that transforming the university into a healthy and nurturing community involves everyone, and is not just for the students but also for the faculty, the stakeholders and the employees.
Two breakout sessions were conducted. Employees and faculty members were grouped by office to (1) discuss the challenges encountered in terms of work environment; students concerns; and personal concerns ; (2) how these challenges will be handled by each office and (3) how these concerns and issues will be resolved. Another breakout session by sector was likewise held in the afternoon using the same guidelines. A presentation of the outcome of the breakout sessions by sector ensued which was followed by the responses of the UPOU Administration: the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellors.
Dr. Melinda Lumanta, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs wrapped up the day’s event by pointing out that transforming the university into a Healthy, Nurturing and Transformative University is a “gigantic task” and should be taken as a challenge by everyone. She thanked the faculty members and staff for their contribution in coming up with action plans, and expressed that the activity is the beginning of the university’s collective effort towards achieving a healthy, nurturing and transformative UP Open University.
The summit was organized by the Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) headed by Director Yasele Irene Angela Yambao with the help of Asst. Prof. Rameses De Jesus, Program Development Associate for Guidance and Counselling and Asst. Prof. Roja Rivera, Program Development Associate for Scholarships . It was attended by 85 faculty, REPS and administrative employees of UPOU. (AMTampus)
