ICODeL 2021 – Day 3 Highlights

The third and final day of the 4th International Conference on Open and Distance e-Learning (ICODeL 2021) opened with Special Session 3: Special Session on Gender Considerations in e-Learning, where six studies were presented.

Asst. Prof. Finaflor Taylan of UPOU presented the first paper titled “Gender and Distance Psychosocial Support during the Pandemic: Lessons and Opportunities From Case Studies” wherein she emphasized that equitable access to gender services especially during the pandemic is crucial to the fulfillment of human rights. Asst. Prof. Ria Valerie Cabanes, Program Development Associate of the Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN) Program, Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), UPOU highlighted the results and recommendations of the paper “Gender differences on the perceived level of the achieved nursing competencies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic” which she had co-authored with Dr. Joane Serrano and Dr. Mary Grace Paayas, Dean of the College of Nursing, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan. Ms. Sarah Romero, Head Facilitator, Kalinga Daycare Center shared the process of how the daycare  made the shift to remote learning and the different challenges encountered and learnings gained as stated in the paper titled “Teaching At Home: Experiences of Daycare Teachers in Shifting to Remote Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic” with Prof. Excelsa Tongson, Deputy Director for Training and Outreach, University of the Philippines Center for Women and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) as co-author.

Prof. Excelsa Tongson, discussed how she and her co-author, Mr. Vincent Fernand Hermoso, Training Assistant, UPCWGS found that the use of the new Data, Knowledge, and Information Launcher (DaKILa) ensured the continuity of gender-responsive training programs and the offering of both existing and new courses using the blended-learning setup. the fifth presentation titled “From F2F: Making GAD Planning and Budgeting (GPB) Work Remotely for State Universities and Colleges,”, Ms. Gina Rose Chan, Publication Production Chief 1, UPCWGS discussed how the online training workshop on Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting was conducted with a total of six modules via the DaKILa platform and the different challenges encountered by the trainees alongside the observations she had  noted with her co-author Ms. Laniza Lacsamana, University Extension Specialist, UPCWGS. For the sixth and last presentation, Ms. Jenine Bagos, Anti-Sexual Harassment Staff, UPOU Office of Gender Concerns (OGC), discussed the framework of systemic student support that was used in the study “Towards a Gender Transformative Student Support in an Online University” co-authored with Dr. Joane Serrano and Ms. Margarite Igcasan, Project Staff, UPOU-OGC.

 President of the Association of Schools of Public Administration in the Philippines (ASPAP), Inc., Dr. Sanjay Claudio introduced the three speakers of the Special Session 4 on Good Practices in Online Public Administration and Governance Education. This session was organized by ASPAP Inc. and UP Open University. Prof. Eleazar Ricote, Deputy Executive Director of Philippine Private-Partnership Center of the Philippines, opens Special Session 4 with “Online” Philippine Public Administration of Governance (PA/G) Education: Practices, Innovations and Challenges. He tackled the Public Administration and Governance Education in the Philippines and how they pivoted in the current virtual environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Atty. Arlene Cosape, faculty member of School of Business and Governance at the Ateneo de Davao University presents Curriculum Co-Design in Teaching Public Administration. The study emphasized the integration of 3C’s Co-Production, Curriculum Integration, and Curriculum Co-Design in Public Administration Programs. Asst. Prof. Juvy Lizette M. Gervacio discussed the effectiveness of Online Public Administration and Governance Education in Developing Competencies. She discussed that most of the respondents said they gained competencies after graduating from UPOU’s Master of Public Management (MPM) and have learned other important skills such as time management and digital skills.

The closing and awarding ceremony wrapped up ICODeL 2021. Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalaria, UPOU Chancellor and Chair of ICODeL 2021, expressed her gratitude to the steering committee, institution partners, resource speakers, panelists, and participants. The ICODeL 2021’s Best Paper Award was given to Ms. Ivy Rose Marie Ortiguero, Ms. Ammanessi Joy Lapitan, Ms. Stephanie Edora Manrilla, Ms. Camille Hemedes, and Dr. Melinda Lumanta for their research titled, “A thematic analysis of UPOU’s Virtual Roundtable Discussions (VRTDs) on the University of the Future.” The prize for the University of the Future Challenge was also awarded to Mr. Marlon Jesspher de Vera, UPOU Doctor of Communication Student, for his entry “Social Media Universities.” An intermission number was offered by UP Rural Highschool Glee Club and UPOU Chorale under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Marife Rebutar Maquera, UPRHS Gleeclub Choirmaster. The closing ceremony was moderated by Prof. Ria Valerie Cabanes, MAN Program Chair, UPOU.