UB administrators attend PACU academic management seminar

UB school administrators with PACU facilitators during the seminar on The Art and Practice of Deanship, at University of Mindanao, Davao in August 5-6, 2010.

School administrators from the University of Bohol attended the academic management seminar on The Art and Practice of Deanship conducted by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) in August 5-6, 2010, at the University of Mindanao-Matina Campus, Davao City.

The two day seminar was focused on educational administrators, specifically deans, in all of their various emergent roles and functions, such as academic management, faculty development, program development and marketing of programs. Also included were topics on how to handle day to day problems, effective supervision and evaluation of faculty, academic freedom, strategic planning and predicting future trends, internationalization and linkages, and impact of globalization in higher education.

Atty. Nuevas T. Montes, VP for administration and Dr. Lumin T. Pamaran, VP for academics led the UB administrators during the seminar which was attended by school executives and academic professionals of private higher educational institutions affiliated with PACU nationwide. College deans who attended were, Dr. Ma. Asuncion L. Bersabal, Tourism/Hospitality Management-Nutrition and Dietetics; Dr. Carolina O. Belarmino, Education; Atty. Marlumina B. Teh ,Liberal Arts; Mrs. Isabelita Margate, Nursing; Atty. Dodelon Sabijon, Criminology; Engr. Liberato Lupot, Jr., Engineering and Technology; Atty. Gregorio Austral, Law; Arch. German Torrero, Architecture and Fine Arts; and Mr. Cesar B. Edulan, Business and Accountancy. Dr. Ammon Dennis R. Tirol ,budget officer/ assistant dean of Graduate Studies and Mr. Will Tyron B. Tirol, college professor also participated during the seminar.

The series of seminars conducted by PACU to all its affiliates is aimed to equip education executives of academic and management posts in the new management tools, developments in quality assurance, advances in educational technology, changing interest of learners, new approaches in strategic planning, novel assessment methods, alternative learning experience and emerging fields of study to address the challenges of fast changing milieu of higher education institutions.

It may be noted that Lawyer Victoriano B. Tirol, Jr., UB president , presently sits as Board Director of PACU representing the Central Visayas region. (L.Boncales)

Life in JENESYS

Life in JENESYS

by: Gladys Hope Bullecer

College of Business and Accountancy

University of Bohol

Learning to appreciate the Japanese culture has made me love more the culture of my own country.

May 11, 2010, I set off to Manila together with Faith Bernadette Descallar, a fellow Ubian as participants in the JAPAN-EAST ASIA NETWORK OF EXCHANGE FOR STUDENTS AND YOUTHS (JENESYS) Programme. Upon arrival, we proceeded to Malacañang to have a rehearsal for our cultural presentation. We were billeted at Saint Benilde CSB Hotel with other fellow youth ambassadors; had a brief orientation and were given passports and travel documents, including hand-outs and kits. The Philippine delegation was grouped into four, Hokaido, Ishikawa, Ibaraki and Saga. I belonged to the Ishikawa group.

The next day we took a five hour trip to Japan and stayed in the night at Grand Prince Hotel, New Takanawa where another orientation was conducted. We took a plane to Komatsu, Ishikawa and were met by the president and staff of the Komatsu International Association (KIA). After taking our lunch, we had a courtesy call to the mayor at his office in Komatsu City, an occasion that was published in their local newspapers.

We had our educational tour at Ogoya Mine Museum and marveled the innovations of the Japanese government in restoring the beauty of nature which was once destroyed. Later that night, we were introduced to our host family where I and two other delegates stayed.

Home stay is one of the major highlights of the programme. Fostered by an accommodating Japanese family, I learned a bit of the Japanese way of living and had a wonderful time with my host. It was really a second home away from home.

The participants had an exchange school program at Komatsu Technical High School and Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST). In the Japanese educational system, students are encouraged to specialize a particular skill and to master it. Taking advantage of the complete machineries at school, students are trained more on application rather than theory.

Our stay in Ishikawa was a great cultural experience. It gave us the chance to participate in the OTABI Festival, one of the biggest festivals in the prefecture (province). The most popular performance during the festival is Hikiyami. Splendidly decorated portable shrines from eight different towns blocked the city and children’s Kabuki was played on the Hikiyama ( festival cart/ float). Kabuki is a highly-stylized classical Japanese dance-drama and sometimes translated as the “art of singing and dancing”. We had our chance to wear Kimono and Yukata and experienced Kyodo, the Japanese art of archery.

The Ishikawa Zoo is another piece of ecological destination where one can observe and play with the animals in the surrounding greeneries. The visit had broadened our sense of responsibility in preserving mother nature.

May 18, 2010, the Ishikawa group flew back to Tokyo and had a tour at Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace (we were so lucky to see in person the royal couple), and Meiji University. It was in Meiji that the JENESYS Programme was wrapped up with a workshop presentation and later a farewell dinner and party.

In our return trip to the Philippines, the delegation paid a courtesy call to the Japanese Ambassador at the embassy. The youth ambassadors expressed gratitude to the government of Japan, the JENESYS Programme and Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE).

As youth ambassador, my experience under JENESYS Programme is superb and educationally enriching. With pleasant memories of that trip still lingers, I cannot let time to pass without expressing my gratitude to the National Youth Commission (NYC) and to my Alma Mater, the University of Bohol for her unwavering support in the development of the students to become responsible leaders and citizens of our country.