ISUFST polishes 6 new graduate  programs for the next school year

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In a significant step towards academic advancement, the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) has recently concluded a crucial two-day live-in workshop to finalize establishing six new graduate programs. Held at the Park Inn by Radisson in Iloilo City on March 23-24, 2024, this gathering marked a pivotal phase in the school’s effort to launch Master of Arts in Education and Doctor of Philosophy in Education programs with majors in Mathematics, Science, and English Language Teaching. This initiative aligns with ISUFST’s commitment to meeting the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) standards and is poised to introduce these programs in the upcoming academic year.

The weekend workshop’s agenda focused on enhancing and finalizing curriculum documents, course maps, matrices, and the school’s research and creative works agenda. As part of ISUFST’s compliance with CHED’s Regional Quality Assessment Team (RQAT) and Technical Committee (TC) requirements, this is a hopeful step towards offering these six graduate programs, signifying a transformative chapter in the institution’s educational journey. Dr. Stephen Jinon, Director of the School of Graduate Studies, emphasized the programs’ potential to cultivate pedagogical leaders who inspire a lifelong love of learning.

“In a world increasingly driven by the bottom line, we at ISUFST stand firm in our conviction that the true measure of our success is the impact we have on our students’ lives and on society at large, not the profit we generate,” declared ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr., with a steadfast resolve to elevate the university’s mission of providing exceptional education rooted in integrity, social justice, discipline, and academic excellence.

Dr. Joan Belga, Vice President for Academic Affairs, also expressed her commitment to enhancing the curriculum, research, and creative works, ensuring the programs’ alignment with the highest standards of educational excellence. She further said, “Human infrastructure is essential in any organization. At ISUFST, our robust human resources ensure even the most intricate tasks are manageable. We are deeply grateful for our dedicated faculty, whose efforts are paramount to our success, yet we also recognize the significant responsibilities entrusted to them.”

The workshop included sessions on crafting admission policies, presenting outputs, finalizing course offerings, and discussing course mapping. Breakout sessions for each major facilitated targeted discussions, culminating in finalizing and submitting all required documents.

This initiative is in response to the thorough evaluation of the proposed graduate programs by CHED’s Joint Regional Quality Assessment Team (RQAT) and the Office of Programs and Standards Development (OPSD) Technical Committee Review. The evaluators meticulously examined ISUFST’s faculty qualifications, infrastructure, and program offerings, providing critical feedback to refine the university’s educational strategies. Banking on its robust faculty portfolio and other academic infrastructures, the school received positive and viable feedback; hence, the two-day event this weekend.

The graduate programs, with pioneering offerings such as the Ph.D. in Education Major in English Language Teaching and the institutional stand-alone agenda for Creative Works—said to be a first of its kind for local-based academic institutions in the region—represent ISUFST’s commitment to set new benchmarks in academic quality. Looking ahead, ISUFST remains committed to achieving the highest educational quality and innovation standards, with the community eagerly anticipating the launch of these graduate programs. This effort underscores ISUFST’s dedication to excellence and its role in shaping the future of education in the country. (Text by Herman Lagon; Photos by Ella Bayatan and Herman Lagon)