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The College of Humanities and Social Sciences held its first five-year Strategic Planning on November 23-24, 2020 at the New Administration Building – Function Room with Zoom as a platform to connect with various stakeholders. The activity was participated by the University’s officials; college executive committee and its affiliates composed of department chairpersons, program/project coordinators, center head, PIWO; and invited stakeholders coming from the University’s partner government agencies, private sectors, employees, parents, and students.
The CHaSS Dean, Prof. Ruth E. Sanchez, opened the two-day activity emphasizing the need to embrace the importance of forging partnership and collaboration with shared wisdom. The Dean went on saying that the activity aimed to create strategic foresight and careful planning where people involved can learn from each other according to the purpose why CHaSS was established. Sanchez further emphasized that all the plans ride on a promise where all stakeholders involved are encouraged to do their part.
The University President, Dr. Anthony M. Penaso, graced the activity with an opening message. Dr. Penaso echoed the idea that dreams are important, but these should be coupled with action. He encouraged all stakeholders to put into action the vision, mission, passion, and commitment for the college. The University President went on saying that alignment of all these plans and actions is important. Dr. Penaso likewise reminded the participants that strategic planning is a process, not an event. He then emphasized the need to constantly responding to the dynamic environment by being so adaptive and creative.
Citing Sun Tzu’s Art of War, the University President encouraged all stakeholders to implement plans with careful and detailed strategy. ‘Since planning is not a prediction of the future, you should think circular not linear’ Dr. Penaso concluded.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rolando N. Paluga, Vice President for Academic Affairs, outlined and presented the University Road Map by mentioning the importance of analyzing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in answering the question: ‘Where are we now?’ The VPAA said that in order to take part in the direction to where the University is going, all stakeholders must bear in mind the University’s vision and mission. Dr. Paluga went on saying that strategic planning, which includes but not limited to, faculty development, curriculum development, university infrastructure, students’ holistic development, among others, has a crucial role in answering the question: ‘How do we get there?’ Hence, the VPAA likewise reiterated the importance of alignment.
Highlighting the internationalization as the future of higher education, Dr. Paluga reminded everyone to value and to monitor regular evaluation. As the University has an ongoing application in Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Stars, an international rating system that provides a detailed look at an institution, the VPAA concluded the value of benchmarking as the University’s direction towards internationalization.
Dr. Fernando T. Herrera, Director of QUAMS, presented via Zoom an orientation of ISO 9001 and the University’s Quality Objectives as preparation for the CHaSS Quality Objectives. Dr. Herrera wrapped up his presentation by saying that all these processes are anchored to the concept of ‘quality.’
Dr. Rowena P. Varela, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension, likewise presented the OVPRIE’s 2020-2025 Research Agenda. The VPRIE mentioned the role of social sciences in social innovation. ‘All these initiatives,’ Dr. Varela said, ‘are geared towards bringing together community and industry in the region towards national development.’ Echoing a concluding statement that adversity is the mother of research and innovation, the VPRIE encouraged everyone to engage in research, innovation, and extension projects to realize all these plans.
During the Open Forum as prompted by the question from the college QUAMS coordinator, Mr. Jan Rey M. Flores, as to why student support should be included in the strategic planning, Dr. Paluga shared the importance of holistic development among students as one of the goals. Putting high premium on student development and support, the VPAA reiterated that students must be equipped with 21st century competencies making them prime movers and better citizens in the global society. ‘All these plans must be carefully planned in the department level,’ Dr. Paluga said.
In the afternoon, Ms. Lilibeth L. Manigo, CHaSS secretary, and Mr. Jan Rey M. Flores, spearheaded the workshop for writing the Quality Objectives of the college. Communication and Humanities worked on Quality Objectives of the college for the production, Psychology on extension and social innovation, Social Work on instruction, and Sociology on research. Participants deliberately discussed on the working outputs and collectively agreed for the college Quality Objectives for the next five years. Round-table discussions for the departmental strategic planning followed suit.
As the second-day of the activity opened, Mr. Johhnie P. Bolongaita, a faculty member of Humanities Division, shared an insightful social innovation by bridging between the people in Sakai, Osaka, Japan and the College through donating of masks made of traditional Japanese cloth called ‘Tenugui.’
‘We would like to express our gratitude to the people in Sakai, all members of the Tenugui Festival Executive Committee, and Enchild for donating bundles of ‘Tenugui mask,’ said Ms. Manigo after receiving the box of face masks from the non-profit organization through Mr. Bolongaita. Some faculty members wore directly the ‘Tenugui mask’ and thanked the donors through a shoutout ‘Arigato gozaimasu!’
Departmental strategic planning was continued headed by the department chairs of Communication and Humanities, Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology in a form of round-table discussions and brainstorming as modes of interaction.
As to what transpired from these discussions, the four existing departments of the college then presented the department plans to invited stakeholders for further discussion and deliberation. All presentations outlined each of the department plans in the following areas: instruction (faculty, curriculum, library, and student support), research, extension, and production.
Participated via Zoom, representatives from various stakeholders who graced the event virtually come from the CHaSS Student Organization, CSU Psychology Society, Junior Social Workers' Association of the Philippines (JSWAP), alumni, faculty, parents, and partner government agencies such as Commission on Higher Education-Caraga, Department of Interior and Local Government-Region XIII, Department of Health-Caraga, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Field Office Caraga, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)-Region XIII, and Caraga PESO Federation. -CHaSS PIWO
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