Looking into the challenges faced by thousands of graduates in search of a rewarding employment and career in the world of work, the UST Alumni Association Inc. (USTAAI), in partnership with the UST Graduate School Center for Continuing Professional Education and Development (UST GS CCPED) organized the National Multisectoral Summit for Educational Transformation: An Academe – Alumni – Industry – Government Collaboration (AAIG 2021). The series of four webinars was held via Zoom on September 3, September 17, October 1, and October 15, 2021.
The main objective of this webinar series was to catalyze the transformation of the Philippine educational landscape towards Education 4.0 by enjoining the academe, alumni, industry, and government sectors to come together in dialogue to adapt innovative and collaborative practices in bridging the academe and industry gap. It also called for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), basic and tertiary education institutions, and other agencies to forge a common innovative pathway.
The AAIG 2021 provided an efficient platform for feedback and continuing conversations to build an ecosystem where fast incubation and birth of innovative pathways lead to inclusive life success and national development.
USTAAI believes that meaningful conversations among academic, industry, and government decision makers are crucial for sustainable development of the country.
The fourth and final webinar, with the theme “Towards a Robust Eco System for Transformative Education,” was held on October 15. Guest speakers included Officer-In-Charge of the Department of Education’s Office of the Undersecretary of Human Resource and Organizational Development; One Shared World Founding Chair Jamie Metzl, Ph.D.; Mount Hermon Academy President Ernesto Jay Adalem, M.D., Ph.D.; and UST Nursing Alumni Association President and Francise Asia Philippines Overall Chair Dr. Carl Balita.
For its third webinar held on October 1, the speakers included Globe Telecom, Inc. Senior Vice President for Communication, Ma. Yolanda C. Crisanto; StudyPlex Learning and Development Training Center Managing Director, Leo Aberion, Ph.D.; Informatics College President and CEO, Leonardo Riingen; and UST Graduate School faculty member for Educational Leadership and Management and Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas Prior, Rev. Fr. Jesús M. Miranda, Jr., O.P., Ph.D. The third webinar was titled “Higher Education in the Industry 4.0 Era.”
The second webinar, held on September 17, focused on “Industry 4.0: Disruptions, Disturbances & Disorders.” The discussion focused on the Covid-19 pandemic and how it greatly affected the industry and the academe, and how practical and effective solutions are put in place with the support of the government to help organizations adapt and become resilient.
The guest speakers were DepEd Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships and Project Management Service, Tonisito M.C. Umali, Esq.; TESDA Deputy Director General for Policies and Planning, Rosanna A. Urdaneta; PCCI Human Resources Development Foundation Inc. President, Alberto Victor P. Fenix, Jr., Ph.D.; and Department of Trade and Industry Secretary, Ramon M. Lopez.
The first webinar, held on September 3, had for its theme “Transitioning the Graduates to Industry 4.0 Workplace: What do Educational Institutions have to do to prepare the workforce for industry 4.0?” Speakers were Shell Philippines Exploration Managing Director and General Manager, Rolando Paulino, Jr.; CHED Commissioner, Dr. Aldrin A. Darilag; and One Meralco Foundation President Jeffrey Tarayao.
Participating in the event were UST Alumni Priests Association President, Monsignor Bernardo R. Pantin, PC, JCD, and UST Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH. The Summit Overview was given by CCPED Director Assoc. Prof. Jocelyn F. Agcaoili.
The recording of the webinar series may be accessed through this link to the USTAAI website’s AAIG Summit page. (<-hyperlink for layout: https://ustalumniassociation.org/aaig2021summit/)
