University News

UPSKILL holds FGD for PUP students

Jan Vincent Lanuza, News, Communication Management Office

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Research Triangle Institute (RTI), held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) under the US-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation, and Lifelong Learning (UPSKILL) Program with selected PUP students held at the Alumni Relations and Career Development Office (ARCDO) at the Sampaguita Building on December 9-10.

Comprised of 1st year and 4th year college students from all walks of life, the FGD centered on getting insights of the students regarding their motivation in entering college, their selection of their current school and course program, and their present academic journey.

Neil Don Orillaneda, Senior Project Manager and Social Development Lead of Edukasyon.ph, said that the FGD aims to understand the differences of student situations and to help and support the graduating students in their transition towards entering the workforce.

“Beyond the UPSKILL program, we’re also developing a paper report because we’re conducting focus group discussions in different universities across the Philippines. And that report, hopefully, will be developed into a big report that will help inform the policy-making bodies involved in higher education institutions to inform them of the realities and how their policies translate into the actual student experience. Because it’s not always what the policy had intended, but it is what happens to the ground,” Orillaneda added.

Further, he praised the PUPians and advised them to “continue instilling the vision, mission, and the value PUP has given you because over the past two days that we’ve been in PUP, with the students that we have talked to, the level of perseverance and resilience is truly different. Continue and keep the fire burning.”

The participating Iskolar ng Bayan shared their takes and positive perception for this event. Bryant Anthony Betco, a fourth Year Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Mathematics (BSEMM) stated that he was able to gain wider insights when it comes to the issues presented and added that the conducive and comfortable environment helps create a healthy discussion.

Eunice Tagud, a Bachelor of Science in Architecture (BSA) student, considered this event a “safe space” where she and the participants were able to freely express their opinions and insights without any judgement and have learned life-long lessons, such as maintaining optimism that she knows she will carry on towards her future profession.

ARCDO Director Florinda H. Oquindo noted how this occasion will benefit the University, particularly on career development and skills enhancement.

“It will foster growth, collaboration, innovation, and it will also enhance learning opportunities with deeper understanding, knowledge sharing, and the development of soft skills when it comes to communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and the research skills and networking skills of the students. They (USAID) conducted the activity because they really wanted [to know] what more could they deliver and what more could they give us in support of our students’ needs,” Oquindo said.

The UPSKILL Program of USAID, is a five-year initiative that aims to turn higher education in the country into an internationally renowned institution by “strengthening innovation, workforce development, and entrepreneurship in colleges and universities” and to also enhance linkages between the US and Filipino universities. It is implemented by RTI International through a consortium of U.S. and Filipino universities and organizations of the two countries such as Arizona State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Edukasyon.ph and the Philippine Business for Education.