The Eastern Visayas State University executives, researchers, faculty members, and non-teaching personnel underwent a Capacity Building on University Futures and Foresight for three consecutive phases- Phase 1, May 10-12, 2023 (via zoom); Phase II, May 15-26, 2023 (field work) and Phase III, May 31, June 1-2, 2023 (onsite) at Sabin Hotel Resorts, Ormoc City.
The Office of Senator Pia S. Cayetano, through the General Appropriations Act 2022 Funding of 2 million, made the activity possible.
With the said funding support, the State Universities and Colleges in the country are expected to contribute to the development of their province, their regions, and ultimately to the national development.
Furthermore, SUCs have to do their own analysis of their external environment and the strengths and challenges of the province and its people, its potentials, and how the SUCs can best contribute to the improvement of people’s lives and the care of the environment.
Moreover, SUCs need to consider futures horizon of 10 to 20 years.
“We are engaging in this Futures Thinking journey to envision potential future scenarios and assess implications as we navigate in an uncertain and rapidly changing world. It is of paramount importance that all of us here know how to integrate futures thinking into our daily operations in the university,” said Dr. Dennis C. de Paz, the University President.
The Aptissimi Development Innovations, Inc. (ADII), in partnership with the Philippine Futures Thinking Society, is the resource provider of the course.
The Director of ADII, Ms. Ma. Christine F. Reyes; Mr. Emmanuel R. de Guia, Director for Strategic Partnership and Networking of Philippine Futures Thinking Society (PhilFutures); and Ms. Jalaine Joyce V. Malabanan, Chief of the Center for Futures Research, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) served as resource speakers.
The said training aims to come up with futures-based long horizon research agenda for the commodities of choice; use Futures Thinking and Foresight Tools; develop a short-term research proposal based on the outputs of the University Futures and Foresight; and unlearn old paradigms and embrace future possibilities through research.
The activity spearheaded by Office of the Internationalization and External Affairs, through Dr. Danilo B. Pulma, Vice-President for Internationalization and External Affairs, facilitated the identification of the commodities to work on based on the University’s Research Agenda tied to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The selected commodities are as follows: Food Innovation; Ceramics; Bamboo; Mangrove; Vertical Farming and Coconut.
The proposals made by the 6 teams were presented for critiquing and submitted to the Research and Development Office for consolidation and fine tuning.
For GAA 2023, an amount of 3 million for higher education research and innovation project is earmarked for the research program from the futures activity.
“I would like to emphasize that we are the drivers of change that can proactively shape and influence the future of this institution. Applying the Futures Triangle in the context of EVSU, we were the weight of history that has deterred the growth of this university. But remember, we are the needed push of the present that can change things and make things happen. More importantly, all of us here – and the entire university community – are the pull of future who can envision immense possibilities for a better Eastern Visayas State University,” he said.
With this activity, Dr. de Paz is optimistic for a brighter future of Eastern Visayas State University.
