First-year students view a campus tour video at the University Convocation as university officials and the guest speaker await their turns onstage.

UP Mindanao Convocation 2024 Highlights Inclusivity and Regional Representation

The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao community officially welcomed its newest batch of first-year students during the 2024 First-Year Convocation on 19 August 2024, with emphasis on inclusivity, regional representation, and opportunities for students from minorities and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).

A glimpse of the first-year student population at the University Convocation

The latest enrollment data showed a significant improvement in regional representation among Academic Year 2024-2025 enrollees. Compared to the previous year, regions like Davao, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga have seen increased enrollment numbers due to the university's commitment to broadening access and ensuring a more equitable distribution of student opportunities across the country.

In line with the university's aim to ensure that youth from the most marginalized areas in Mindanao have greater access to UP education, UP aims to have at least one UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) testing center for every province. Currently, there are eight in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), seven in CARAGA, six in Zamboanga Peninsula, and five in Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, and SOCCSKSARGEN, respectively.

"You come from different regions in the Philippines, including BARMM. We also have 12 LINGAP scholars from geographically disadvantaged areas," Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao said in her opening remarks, underscoring the university's commitment to democratizing access to tertiary education to students from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

"This is the kind of home that we have built for UP Mindanao—a home for inclusive development. We provide a safe space that will allow you to live your full potential and totality as individuals," Murao continues.

Among these enrollees is Denver Abdul, an Associate in Arts in Sports Science (AASS) student from the municipality of Maguindanao of BARMM, who noted the ease of access to UP admissions despite coming from a geographically disadvantaged area.

"I did not take any exam since I'm from the AASS program. Wala pong challenge sa admission process since there were people who were willing to help me. Yung ninong ko po, who is a UP alumnus, was the one who encouraged the most," Abdul said. (I did not take any exam since I'm from the AASS program. There was no challenge in the admission process since there were people who were willing to help me. My godfather, who is a UP alumnus, was the one who encouraged me the most.)

The AASS program, along with other associate in arts degrees across the UP system, is a two-year pre-baccalaureate program that ladderizes into the Bachelor of Arts in Sports Science (BSS) program. AASS students do not need to take the UPCAT, as they can transition into the BSS program after completing their associate degree. This pathway is one of the many alternatives to gaining admission to UP without taking a test to offer students more routes to enter UP. Plans are underway to offer more associate degree programs in UP Mindanao.

Twelve first-year students are part of the rollout of the Lingap-Iskolar Program this year. The program aims to address the financial challenges faced by around 1,500 GIDA qualifiers annually by providing comprehensive assistance in housing, meals, transportation, and educational materials.

During the Strategic Plan 2023-2029 Rollout last May 7, 2024, in UP Mindanao, UP President Angelo Jimenez highlighted the importance of the Lingap-Iskolar Program, noting that approximately 1,500 UPCAT qualifiers from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) do not continue their education at UP each year. Despite the free tuition offered under RA 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, these students often face financial challenges that prevent them from pursuing their studies at the university.

UP Mindanao continues to work towards expanding its enrollment to 5,000 students by 2029 under the "Road to 5K (R2-5K)" plan and increasing its carrying capacity by enhancing its infrastructure, facilities, and human resources for teaching and non-teaching positions.

The university's first-year student admissions have gradually increased from 353 last year to 390 this year, with University Registrar Karen Joyce Cayamanda hopeful that enrollees will continue to increase as admissions are still ongoing.

Also part of the R2-5K plan is the launch of new degree programs, such as a Doctor of Medicine program in collaboration with UP Manila, a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with UP Diliman, an Associate in Entrepreneurship, and two Master of Science degrees in Qualitative Methods in Modeling and Biology, in line with its mandate as articulated in the "UP in Mindanao Act of 1995" (RA 7889).

Written by: Alyssa Ilaguison | SA-PRO and KC Ann Neljane P. Abella

With inputs from: Michael Noel R. Bonghanoy