UP Mindanao Convocation goes virtual in 2021; enrollment increases by 18%

by Ena Marie Olivares-Dizon

Defined by their mission-driven grit and unity as a university, the University of the Philippines  Mindanao welcomed its new students on 13 September 2021 with open arms—and inspired to ‘make the impossible possible’—during such an unprecedented time.

Two batches of students – from Academic Years 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 – were welcomed in this annual event through its first-ever online University Convocation, marking the start of classes for the First Semester of Academic Year 2021-2022.

While UP Mindanao entered the academic year virtually due to COVID-19, it managed to cater to 368 new students comprising batch 2021.

According to University Registrar Assoc. Prof. Vladimer B. Kobayashi, the 368 enrollees this year represented an 18% increase in first-year students compared to the 312 first-year students of batch 2020, who were also present and welcomed on the same day after the cancellation of the convocation ceremony in 2020 due to the pandemic.

These undergraduate students from the nine existing degree programs of the university were joined by the 21 pioneering members of the Associate in Arts Sports Studies (AASS) degree program, UP Mindanao’s newest academic offering, which caters to experienced and exceptional student-athletes.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) had the highest intake with 342 new students, followed by the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) with 275, and the School of Management (SOM) – which offers one undergraduate degree program at present – with 62 new students.

Prof. Kobayashi further noted that “there is a sharp increase in enrollment for BS Agribusiness Economics, BS Applied Mathematics, and BA English.” Moreover, he observed that enrollment figures for each of the degree programs“ are now at least 30,” expressing a new benchmark in some of UP Mindanao’s undergraduate degree programs that have had low admission rates in the past.

By degree program of the CHSS, BS Architecture has 56 new students from batch 2020 and 58 from batch 2021; BS Anthropology has 34 and 30; BA Communication and Media Arts has 44 and 43; BA English has 24 and 33; the new AASS program has 21.

In the CSM, the BS Applied Mathematics program has 21 second-year and 33 first-year students; BS Biology has 40 and 43; BS Computer Science has 34 and 39; BS Food Technology has 32 in the second-year cohort and 33 students in the first-year group.

In the SOM, the BS Agribusiness Economics program has 27 second-year and 35 first-year students.

The University of the Philippines Mindanao’s Center for the Advancement of Research in Mindanao (CARIM) will be hosting a lecture entitled “Our Food Future Is In The Past: The Science Behind Traditional Food” on 15 September 2021 (2:45  PM) via Zoom. Prof. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr., PhD, UP Mindanao’s Professor Emeritus and NAST Academician, will deliver the lecture. As a seasoned scientist and academician, Prof. Rasco has extensive experience and track record in research, development, and extension on plant breeding and agricultural biotechnology. This webinar is organized by CARIM to respond to the challenges in food supply chain, logistics, and health and well-being of our society during these trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

At its 1363rd Meeting held on 26 August 2021, the UP Board of Regents (BOR) APPROVED the Memorandum of Agreement between the University of the Philippines and the City Government of Davao City for the Establishment of the Davao City Public Hospital in UP Mindanao Campus. The BOR is composed of CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III as chairperson, UP President Danilo Concepcion as co-chair, Senator Joel Villanueva, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher and Technical, and Vocational Education, Cong. Mark Go, the chairperson of the counterpart House committee, Alumni Regent Reynaldo Laserna, Faculty Regent Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo, Student Regent Renee Louise Co, Staff Regent Mylah Pedrano, Regent Francis Laurel, Regent Maria Arlissa Aguiluz, and Regent Raul Pagdanganan.    

The approval was granted following the favorable review of the Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs. The Memorandum of Agreement is summarized, as follows:

UP and the Davao City local government unit ("LGU") intend to work together for the creation of the Davao City Public Hospital. The details of this working relationship are set forth in a memorandum of agreement ("MOA") already signed by the incumbent city mayor, the Hon. Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City has authorized Mayor Duterte to sign the said MOA. The Davao City budget officer, Ermelinda F. Gallego, had issued a certification that funds have been set aside for the said MOA, because the Davao City LGU has committed to fund the entire MOA, and the city legal officer has favorably endorsed the said MOA. 

According to the said MOA, the Davao City LGU's obligations include:

1. providing funds to develop, build, construct, implement, and maintain the said public hospital;

2. preparing the design and engineering plans which are subject to UP's approval;

3. developing the site; and

4. providing funds for hospital operations, among others.

UP's obligations include providing the land on which the hospital will be built. UP owns the land upon which the hospital will be erected. The hospital building will initially be owned by the Davao City LGU but after twenty-five years the ownership of the said building will automatically be transferred to UP.  UP will render technical assistance, and—together with the Davao City LGU — will provide policy and operational direction for the hospital.

 The MOA is not a lease but a public service of the Davao City LGU with the assistance of UP. On the part of UP, this MOA is not an income-generating plan. Based on the MOA, the establishment of the subject hospital shall be at no cost to UP.