UP President Angelo Jimenez joined as a panelist in a discussion on "People" with the theme "Advancing Human Resource Development and Social Inclusion in Mindanao" during the second day of the Mindanao Development Forum 2024, on July 25, 2024, at Acacia Hotel Davao.

Pres. Jimenez shared UP's steps in fostering this agenda by highlighting the importance of quality education during the session.

He highlighted UP's strategies for ensuring the admissions system is inclusive, underscoring his focus on democratizing education access for Mindanaoans, including those from Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA). Examples are UP Mindanao's associate degree programs, the UP Lingap-Iskolar program, and the free online courses offered by the UP Open University as three areas of focus upon advancing this agenda, as well as collaboration and co-creating efforts with other SUCs.

In preparing the new generation of learners in Mindanao for the workforce, President Jimenez emphasized the need to acknowledge differences in each student's learning style and the challenge of tailoring the UP pedagogy to engage them. He noted that the education system has flaws in catering to new generations of learners. Therefore, he wants to challenge the teachers to reinvent their approaches.

Furthermore, he also shared the UP System's current mission of advancing and expanding its degree programs in Mindanao, such as the coming of the Doctor of Medicine in 2025 and the College of Engineering in the near future.

Representatives from other sectors joined the discussion to share their insights on Mindanao's development, including Michael Godinez from the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), University of Mindanao (UM) president Dr. Guillermo P. Torres Jr., Dr. Maria Theresa Mokamad from USAID, and Sec. Lope B. Santos III from the National Anti-poverty Commission.

In the photo above are (left-right) TWG BDI's John Carlo Evardo, PIDS' Jose Ramon Albert, UP Mindanao's Dean Jhoanna Lynn Cruz, Chancellor Murao, Pres. Angelo Jimenez, Sec. Leo Tereso Magno, UP Mindanao's Minerva Rosel, VCAA Annabelle Novero, Dean Cleto Nanola Jr., Research Director May Anne Mata, Dean Aurelia Luzviminda Gomez, Pahinungod Director Michael Gatela, and TWG BDI's Nhikki Pauline Lumayag.       

The Mindanao Development Forum 2024 aims to focus on the agenda of empowering people, sustaining prosperity, preserving the planet, nurturing peace, and fostering partnerships in Mindanao. It was organized by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), along with other local and foreign partner organizations.

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