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New UPMin programs to increase student enrollment

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

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The University of the Philippines President Angelo A. Jimenez has urged the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) to increase its carrying capacity to 5,000 students within the next six years.

“We are committed to making UPMin a full spectrum university that offers the relevant skills and professional needs of our island,” said President Jimenez in a recent visit.

To achieve this target, the UPMin administration has conducted a workshop on how to increase its capacity. The workshop involved the various academic units that crafted a proposal on its new academic offerings and various projects. The said proposal will be submitted to President Jimenez.

The UP Board of Regents (BOR) recently approved two new academic degree programs in its April 3, 2023 meeting. These are the Bachelor of Science in Data Science and the Master of Science in Human Movement Science. These bring UPMin’s degree programs to 12 undergraduate and seven graduate programs, with more in the pipeline.

“We have been looking forward to the approval of our new degree programs,” said UPMin Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao. “This is part of UP Mindanao’s commitment to innovate and broaden our academic offerings in response to the emerging demands of the 21st century,” she said.

The proponents earned the approval for the new degree programs from the planning and coordination in recent years, coupled with last-mile efforts through the University Council, the Academic Curriculum Committee, and the President’s Advisory Council. UPMin’s academic units can learn from the program proponents' experiences to expedite their new programs.

The efforts to add more academic offerings are part of Chancellor Murao’s commitment to UPMin’s continuum of strategic plans initiated by her predecessors. This strategy also addresses UPMin’s requirement for additional plantilla items for teaching and non-teaching personnel.

UPMin conducts UPCAT orientation and simulation in Caraga

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

The UP Mindanao team was in Caraga Region on April 27-29, 2023, to conduct the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) Simulation Exam and Manual Application for Grade 11 students. This is because the UP Office of Admissions will open an UPCAT Test Center in Dinagat Islands Province.

On the first day, the team went to Cagdianao National High School, Municipality of Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands. This initiative is headed by the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Mindanao, in partnership with the UPMin Office of Extension and Community Service, the UPMin Office of the University Registrar, and the UP Office of Admissions. For the second day, the UPMin team went to Ruben Edera Ecleo Sr. National High School and Primitivo J. Ebol Memorial National High School. The former is located in the Municipality of Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands, while the latter is located in the Municipality of Dinagat in the same province. On the third day, the UPMin team went to Dinagat School of Fisheries, Municipality of Dinagat, Dinagat Islands.

The UPMin team was composed of assistant professors Dennis Sumaylo and Annaliza Castro and staff members Methus Elisan (OUR), Roeviminda Delos Santos (Pahinungod), Joy Angela Ignacio, and Aladin R. Intoy, Jr., both of the Office of Extension & Community Service. The Youth Formation Unit under the School Governance and Operations Division of the Schools Division Office of Dinagat Islands guided the UPMin team throughout the three-day campaign.

(Source: OECS, UPMin)

UPMin leads UPCAT Orientation and Simulation in Sulu

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

On April 24 to 28, 2023, the Affirmative Action Program (AAP) Team of Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Mindanao traveled to Sulu Province to conduct UP College Admission Test Orientation and Simulation to Grade 11 students in the province. Sulu Province will be provided with an UPCAT Test Center to be located in the Sulu National High School. According to the local schools official, the estimated number of expected UPCAT takers is 3,000 applicants. 

From 25 to 27 April 2023, the team visited eight schools. The Sulu National High School on 25 April, the Jolo School of Fisheries, Jolo Agricultural School, Hadji Butu School of Arts & Trades, and MSU Sulu on 26 April, and Sulu State College, Notre Dame of Jolo HS, and Sulu College of Technology on 27 April 2023.     
Team members School of Management Dean Dr. Aurelia Luzviminda Gomez and Ugnayan ng Pahingod Mindanao Junior Project Associate Marie Lyn Cayunda were first-time Sulu visitors. On the other hand, two other team members were former Gurong Pahinungod Batch 1 volunteers who were deployed to Jolo in their time. UPMin Pahinungod Director Michael Gatela and Land Reservation & Management Office Chief Joel Sagadal were once deployed at Jolo Agricultural School and Jolo School of Fisheries, respectively. 
(Source UPMin Ugnayan ng Pahinungod)

Animal Welfare with Bantay Hayop Davao

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao and UP Mindanao officials reiterated its continuing commitment to uphold animal welfare and responsible pet ownership in collaboration with Bantay Hayop Davao, a non-government organization. Bantay Hayop President Rovie Bullina (left, in top photo) and her team offered this collaboration in the meeting held on May 2, 2023, in the UPMin Gaisano Room. UPMin Vice Chancellor for Administration Leo Manuel Estana reported on the discussion. The salient proposals were the creation of a university committee for this purpose, an information drive for students and the campus community, to partner with student organizations for the sustainability of animal welfare operations, an animal shelter in partnership with the barangay, and the provision of food for animals. UPMin extension director Asst. Prof. Erwin Protacio, Land Management Chief Joel Sagadal, and security staff Roberto Cardinal were likewise present at the meeting. Ms. Bullina, on the other hand, was accompanied by associates Sheila Mae Cuburog, Alexandria Rian, Jel Karry Dalagan, and Xedrick Noel Kangleon.

DOST-PTRI offers collaboration with UPMin

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

A team from the DOST-PTRI or the Philippine Textile Research Institute offered UPMin potential partnerships over natural fibers (e.g. Ramie, banana, pineapple, etc.) and other indigenous weaves in the Davao Region, as well as opportunities for technology transfer for UPMin's Polylactic Acid (PLA) technology. Team leader Mr. Audric Zureal Cruz expressed these in a courtesy visit to UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni E. Murao (third from left, in top photo) on April 26, 2023. The DOST-PTRI presentation on their textile industry sector R&D showed demand for textiles for footwear and various fabrics (in lower photo). Polylactic Acid, likewise, was considered to be adopted in their R&D. 
UPMin's Technology Transfer Chief Science Research Specialist, Dr. Melvin S. Pasaporte (left, in lower photo), toured the DOST-PTRI team through the Lactic Acid Laboratory, where he discussed the process and showcased the new equipment for the 2nd Phase of the development of PLA. This tour also provided an opportunity for a detailed discussion of the possible collaboration and adaptation of Polylactic Acid in the textile industry. In response, the UPMin team invited the PTRI to be a locator in the proposed UPMin Knowledge, Innovation, Science, and Technology (KIST) Park.
This opportunity addresses responsible production, industry innovation, and economic growth, through partnerships. 

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