Anyone in the administration of the University of the Philippines should not consider as a great honor – and I know they are not really resting on their laurels – to almost always lead the country when it comes to the measures of quality set in the world rankings of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS ) and Times Higher Education (THE). It is good news that UP maintains the highest score compared to other higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country, but there are two things that must be focused on: UP will raise its world ranking even more, and make its public service felt by more Filipinos especially in rural areas.
Under the UP Charter (RA 9500), it is stated in the “Mandate as the National University” that the university has a role to lead “lead as a public service university by providing various forms of community, public and volunteer service, as well as scholarly and technical assistance to the government, the private sector, and civil society while maintaining its standards of excellence.”
In terms of the “Social Responsibility” provision, “UP is committed to serve the Filipino nation and humanity, and relate its activities to the needs of the Filipino people and their aspirations for social progress and transformation, and provide venues for student volunteerism.”
A portion of the “Democratic Access” provision says: “The national university shall take affirmative steps which may take the form of an alternative and equitable admissions process to enhance the access of disadvantaged students, such as indigenous peoples, poor and deserving students, including but not limited to valedictorians and salutatorians of public high schools, and students from depressed areas, to its programs and services.” (New version: “UP shall take affirmative steps, which may take the form of an alternative and equitable admissions process to enhance the access of disadvantaged students.”)
“The national university has the responsibility to maintain and enhance its high academic standards in the performance of its functions of instruction, research and extension, and public service,” stipulates a UP Charter section.
That almost sums up the reason why the Philippines’ premier state university is reasonably expected to be No. 1 in the country in terms of world rankings, including the ones set by QS and THE.
The UP website noted in its June 5 news-feature: “Rising out of the challenging times during the COVID-19 pandemic, this latest (QS) round of rankings indicates an upward trend for the university. In the 2020 rankings, which were released in 2019, UP’s ranking fell from 356th to 396th. The downward trend continued until the 2023 rankings, which were released in 2022, where UP landed at the 412th spot, its lowest since 2012.”
SUPPORTING THE U.N. 2030 AGENDA
Next Friday, June 14, has been set as the deadline for proposals for the Research, Innovation and Extension Grant-in-Aid (GIA) Program for 2025 funding. The call for proposals, according to a resolution of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through the Office of Planning, Research and Knowledge Management (OPRKM), covers the following platforms/thematic areas:
(1) Food Production and Security; (2) Environment, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change and Energy; (3) Terrestrial and Marine Resources: Economy, Biodiversity and Conservation; (4) Smart Analytics and Engineering Innovations; (5) Health Systems; and (6) Education in STEAM.
The CHED memo dated March 4 states that proposals with these thematic areas should be aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in consonance with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The CHED-OPRKM said: “The GIA Program aims to build a higher education strategic research and extension portfolio through collaborative and disruptive research, innovation and extension programs/projects among Philippine HEIs. Conceivably, as producers of knowledge or hubs of innovations, HEIs are positioned to work in partnership with communities, business, and industry in facilitating the transfer of knowledge or technology on specific developmental areas that directly affect the lives of individuals, families and communities.”
DC Alviar
Professor DC Alviar serves as a member of the steering committee of the Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO). He was part of National University’s community extension project that imparted the five disciplines of a learning organization (Senge, 1990) to communities in a local government unit. He writes and edits local reports for Mega Scene. He graduated with a master’s degree in development communication from the University of the Philippines Open University in Los Baños. He recently defended a dissertation proposal for his doctorate degree in communication at the same graduate school under a Philippine government scholarship grant. He was editor-in-chief of his high school paper Ang Ugat and the Adamson News.
