UP strengthens research, teaching and outreach
With a newly granted autonomous status and its South Road Properties(SRP) extension campus in the making, the University of thePhilippines-Cebu is slowly mounting its mark in the province as it expands its academic arm and strengthens its research, instruction andextension functions.
Prof. Atanacio Almocera from the Science Cluster said the primary function of every university is research, of which the output will be used in classroom instructions.
Dr. Richielita Galapate, OIC dean of UP Cebu, said teachers are encouraged to do research and have it published as this will be the basis in the national ranking of universities.
The research units of UP Cebu include the Central Visayas Studies Center (CVSC), whose function is to identify, document, study, preserve and disseminate local history and culture in the region.
According to Prof. Chito Patiño of the Department of Computer Science, strengthening the instruction arm of the university means improving the quality of teaching. “Instruction goes hand-in-hand with research. Professors and lecturers are required to publish articles or journals or researches,” Patiño said.
Galapate also pointed out that as a national university, it is also the primary duty of UP units to practice extension and help the community.
“We have tieups with local government units to conduct training on how to use an open source software and to create an intelligent graphic systems. We also give workshops to other teachers,” Patiño said.
Extension units of UP Cebu include the Sidlak Gender and Development Program that advocates for women’s well-being and the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, which conducts activities to promote Filipino as the national language.
Prof. Almocera believed it is the duty of the university to fund the research of teachers even though there are other ways to get funds for it.
He cited the problems on the lack of implementation and personnel and the change in administration as some of the reasons why the three primary functions were not actively practiced.
He, however, said the university continues to move forward and aims to fortify its academic and research programs and works.
“Planning takes place every three to five years. We evaluate our actions whether it’s effective or not. If it’s effective, we enhance the actions, if not, we look for another strategy,” Almocera said. /contributors Sean Timothy F. Salvador, Meryl Lyn Roa and Caren Hope Tancinco
