PhilPEN launched to enhance polytechnic education
MANILA, Philippines — Representatives from polytechnic state universities and other educational institutions gathered for the launching of the Philippine Polytechnic Education Network (PhilPEN) for a more coordinated polytechnic system in the country.
“Let’s work together as one polytechnic. Let us build a consortium that will advance polytechnic education, that will contribute to national progress while responding to global challenges,” Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) President Dr. Manuel Muhi said in a statement released Saturday.
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The three-day summit in Pasay City gathered representatives from polytechnic state universities and other educational institutions, as well as Technical Vocational Schools Association and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
According to the PUP, the event seeks to establish a coordinated national platform among partner institutions to enhance polytechnic education and its influence in the country, as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
The initiative was supported by the Commission on Higher Education.
PUP added that they were able to identify a common ground in industry-responsive curricula, cross-border applied research, inclusive quality-assurance frameworks, and community-engaged innovation from ASEAN polytechnic networks.
“We gather not just to improve what we do but to redefine who we are. As polytechnic leaders, our purpose is clear: To build an education ecosystem where knowledge serves communities, research solves real problems, and our greatest measure of success is the public value we create,” Vice President for Research, Extension and Development and summit chairperson Dr. Anna Ruby Gapasin said.
Through PhilPEN, they are expected to pursue a long-term curriculum for applied research partnerships and widen work-integrated learning models with industry-based and practice-oriented education.
The summit also served as a guide to navigate institutional strategic roadmaps, curriculum development, and other academic and innovative initiatives among polytechnic higher education institutions.
“The network also aims to strengthen the capacity of polytechnic institutions to produce graduates prepared for evolving workforce requirements and regional labor mobility opportunities while developing practical solutions to local, national, and regional development challenges,” PUP said. /gsg
