Vision for the University of the Philippines-Diliman
Rolando B. Tolentino, Dean , College of Mass Communications
An increasing number of private universities is fast catching up with the quality and scope of UP’s excellence. They now have campuses within their system, not to mention a rapid innovation in their courses and management. They also have an extensive system of linkages to different institutions within and beyond the country. There are a considerable number of studies which rank universities worldwide. Notwithstanding the perceived problems in the methodology of some of these studies, it is still important to take note of UP’s ranking which is getting lower compared to other universities in the country, in the region as well as in the global arena.
But more than its ranking, I strongly believe that the greatest challenge for UP as it enters into another century is to remain faithful to its character as a national and a public university whose scholars are honorable, excellent and of service to the people.
While UP has to strive to live up to its values it is known for – honor and excellence – these must be anchored on the values of public service, transparency and good governance. For me, there is no real honor and excellence if these were not rooted on service to the people, transparent processes and democratic governance in the University. There are various indications of UP’s divergence from this mission: the atomization of colleges in Diliman, along with their income-generating schemes toward self-sufficiency; the emergent class character of UP students who must not only be intelligent but also financially endowed; the uneven distribution of benefit packages among REPS, administrative staff and faculty; the lack of a formal grievance procedure for tenure and promotion; the lack of enabling conditions for junior faculty members and the many cases of exclusion of qualified senior faculty members from assuming more responsibilities on account of administrative parochialism; the interrelation and demarcation of power among governing units; the implementation of neoliberal policies or the practical and ideological privileging of private business and markets in running the affairs of the University when public service is its rightful character, etc.
The situation is indeed alarming. It is high time to ensure the practice of innovation, especially for UP Diliman, as a way to redirect and recreate the University. The promotion of democratic innovations that are of service to the people is important in UP Diliman, the flagship campus of the UP System. This is so because it influences the other units within the System, as well as other SUCs and private universities which, according to the UP Charter of 2008, “[T]he University of the Philippines shall perform its unique and distinctive leadership in higher education and development.”[ii]
The UP Charter lays down the rationale of the University for its next centennial: to lead in academic excellence, research, teaching and faculty development, to serve as a graduate and research university while maintaining its pubic service orientation, to protect and widen the professional and economic rights and welfare of its faculty and staff, open opportunities in developing democratic values, sports, nationalism and national identity, strengthen its linkages toward a regional and global university; and observe democratic governance.
Thus, my vision for UP Diliman is geared toward the upholding of the innovative and productive spirit of the Iskolar ng Bayan (one who is accountable to the Filipino people who subsidizes every scholar’s UP education; one who will serve the interest of the people after graduation) and the development of the culture of innovation as the means in laying down the programs which are attuned to the spirit of its new Charter.
The UP Charter puts premium on academic freedom and excellence, commitment to national development, social responsibility and democratic access. The public service orientation of UP calls for a culture of innovation. How then do we recreate the Univeristy that is not removed from pursuing national development? There is a need for a transparent and democratic governance to arrest the atomization of colleges and constitutent universities, and the development of solidarity that recognizes and cares for the welfare of all.The goal of this vision is to make UP the leader in higher education both within the nation and the region.
Public Service
This general vision can only succeed if UP Diliman adopts a preferential option for public service. This is beyond the common perception that being a public servant is in itself a sacrifice. This entails UP Diliman’s colleges and institutions to intervene and take a stand on crucial academic and non-academic issues. The promotion of opportunities includes voluntarism among faculty, students and staff so that UP’s public service will not only be established but be recognized as significant to the life and progress of the nation.
Academic Excellence
In the realm of academic work, there is a need to increase the support and incentive for outstanding faculty members, researchers and graduate students.
The kind of research that is anchored on the interest of national development will involve collective discussions. Notwithstanding the various programs already implemented, there is still a need to continue to support UP’s essential value of academic excellence. This includes the following: Increase funding for Research Dissemination Grants so that more faculty members will be able to propagate new knowledge through conferences, create a support system for excellent journals of the different colleges that will be able to solicit contribution from scholars from other universities and other countries; in coordination with the UP Press, allocate funds for book series on crucial topics of academic and social significance with a multidisciplinary approach; through consultation with the colleges, create a venue for expediting the process of review and recommendation of new and/or revised programs; the allocation of funds for book seminars so that contributors who will be selected from the multidisciplinary and thematic proposals will be able to come to UP Diliman and discuss their projects; support the projects of the different units within the four clusters of UP Diliman as well as among the four clusters themselves to foster greater academic and personal interaction among faculty members and REPS; widen the scope of support for modernization projects for classroom and other academic facilities that will include the creation of smart classrooms; the designation of spaces for multi-disciplinary research; promote multidisciplinary teaching especially on General Education courses, support and increase funding for research endowment.
UP’s Liberal Tradition
The tradition of liberal thought and proactive action must be carried on. The capacity to push scholars to think outside the box is what makes UP education distinctive. This can only be observed within an environment of liberal education. Hence the need to further support student projects including the generation of funds for the modernization of Vinzon’s Hall and the transfer of its administrative offices in more strategic locations. There is also a need to provide more tambayans for student organizations and other facilities that will cultivate the liberal tradition among their ranks. Other programs for the promotion of student welfare, including campus fraternities will be implemented. In general, there is a need to improve basic services and facilities for students, for example, the perennial problem of long and winding cues during enrolment period must be addresseed to its roots. A policy that will open UP Diliman to deserving students with disabilities must be implemented, one that will allow them to finish a degree by providing a learning environment that is responsive to their needs. It is important to formally involve elected student representatives in the crafting of proposed rules and regulations that will affect them.
Dynamic Research
As a graduate and research university, it is clear that UP’s direction is toward national development. For us to attain the status of a real graduate and research university, there is a need to encourage and support faculty and REPS to earn a PhD in their chosen fields and to continue their research, publication and artistic production. There is also a need to increase the graduate population of theUniversity so that the expertise and knowledge production of faculty and reps can be transferred to the next crop of scholars. The goal of which is the UP Charter’s bid for a 24/7 knowledge production and the campus and selected offices must be literally and figuratively open for research activities of faculty members and reps. The campus must be well-lit and secure with strategically located emergency portals for a direct and faster access to the UP police. The amenities for a research environment must be within reach. The freedom of research in UP Diliman will be reinforced in keeping with the consensus of the higher education leaders in the 2007 Bologna Ministerial Meeting, “The basis of research in higher education is its independence and search for truth which justifies higher education’s continued exercise of academic freedom.” In addition to this, there is a need to develop a mechanism in inviting local and foreign visiting scholars who can enrich the academic programs and research of faculty and REPS of UP Diliman.
The Cultivation of Arts and Culture and Other Issues
I intend to give emphasis on the further cultivation of arts and culture in UP Diliman. As a writer, I am aware of how artisitic production is not equally valued relative to knowledge production in other disciplines. An equal valuation of arts and culture—to my mind, one of UP Diliman’s crown jewels —will be observed in different endeavors and projects. The same will be observed for research on art and culture as well as the support for Filipino language and its more active dissemination of this in the campus and in the country.
The passage of the Magna Carta of Women in 2009 gave the impetus to reinforce UP Diliman’s support in ensuring the vital integration of women and gender issues in the academica dn administrative life of the university. It is crucial to institutionalize the UP Diliman Gender Office through a BOR approval, the same that was granted to women and gender centers of UP Manila, Los Banos and the Visayas.
The environment is also an important issue. Ours is a beautiful campus but the realities of calamity and modernization cannot be overlooked. We need to put our heads together in fostering an environment-friendly policy that will cover the preservation of open and green spaces in teh academic oval. There is also a need to put in place a disaster-prepearedness policy.
Student Support
As a public service university, it is most important to allocate considerable funds to support qualified indigent UP students who cannot afford to pay tuition and other fees and living expenses. UP loses its public character if it fails to open its doors to qualified but poor students. The democratization of UP’s admission policy as well as the augmentation of the endowment fund for financial support based on student needs will have my full support. Deserving students shall be provided with slots in the dormitories with book provisions, meals and daily allowance. It is a known fact that on the average, out of 100 Grade 1 students only 14 can graduate from college. It means so much for a high school graduate who went through the average class size of 60-80, the scarcity of books and classrooms to be accepted and actually finish a degree from UP.
Multidisciplinary Centers and the Opening Up of the Campus
Support will be provided for multidisciplinary centers that will serve as primary mechanism for extension work of collaborating colleges. It is important to develop the creative collaboration between the College of Engineering and the Third World Studies Center in providing Internet access to public shools in Batanes and other rural areas. UP Diliman may as well explore the possibility of opening its campus in order to allow people outside of the UP Community an increased accessto its amenities and participation in its events. This entails the systematization of schedules of museums and galleries, walking tours, publicity of fora and gatherings in the campus, as well as linkages to different universities and institutions outside of the campus. There is also an opportunity for UP Diliman to be the center of culture in this part of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga and Rizal. In all of these, it will be ensured that all programs of UP Diliman would have a public service aspect that will be recognized within and outside of the campus.
Welfare of the Faculty, REPS and Staff
In the interest to provide protection and push for the professional and economic welfare of facult, REPS and staff, the provision for equal welfare beneifits is in order. In my experience as dean, the reality of very low salaries and benefits for staff and REPS has become even much clearer to me. An increased support of knowledge and skills development of rank and file and REPS is much needed. Other forms of support for faculty, REPS and non-academic staff include the provision of additional housing on campus, and if possible, outside of the campus, computer plans, shuttle service, medical and dental plans and other basic social services are on the agenda. Among the ranks of faculty and REPS, a grievance mechanism will be put in place for issues regarding tenure, promotion and other grievances.
Sports, Nationalism and National Identity
In providing opportunities in developing democratic values, sports, nationalism and national identity, implementing programs that will support the same will be developed. The relaunching of Pahinungod which promoted voluntarism particularly among students may be considered in order to promulgate service to the people and for this value to be brought to the poorest of communities. The same rationale of providing opprtunties will be implemented for the benefit of the shows, radio programs in DZUP, performances in UP Theater and Film Center, exhibitions an programs of the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, Center for Women’s Studies, Center for Internationl Studies, Third World Studies Center, Institute of Creative Writing, as well as for multidisciplinary centers, colleges and institutes.
The provision of improved campus facilities, especially for sports will be supported through tie ups with private and public agencies towards the creation of a sports complex and training facility. The involvement of UP Diliman in the activities of the mass movement as well as linking up to their sectors and communities to support academic programs and extension work; and also to support the legitimate demands of different mass organizations.
Regional and Global Linkages
In widening the UP’s linkages toward becoming a regional and global university, the colleges are expected to identify their partner universities, professional, cultural and scientific organizations to build and/or strengthen linkages. Funding will be allocated for faculty and REPS for them to become members of international and professional organizations and encourage them to become leaders in these formations. Holding of annual conferences of professional organizations in UP Diliman will be supported. UP Diliman will also assist in establishing research consortiums, academic programs and various forms of extension work with institutions within the country and Southeast Asia.
Democratic Governance
The rationale of democratic governance calls for an open communication with the BOR, the UP System as well as with other campuses for cooperation and demarcation of functions and power. We shall strongly assert that the BOR respects the University Council decisions pertaining to academic issues such as the enforcement of disciplinary action on students. A mechanism for democratic consultation on relevant issues in order for UP Diliman to take a stand on academic and non-academic matters will be established. As per the UP Charter, there is a need to provide venues for the discussion of non-academic issues and ensure the active participation of students, faculty, staff REPS and alumni.[1]
The active discussion of academic issues is already part of the University Council’s practice. There is a need, however, to encourage more of its members to participate in the discussion of non-academic issues, which can be done with the committees’ presentation of their respective programs. There is a need to come up with a mechanism that will enjoin junior faculty members to participate in the discussion of academic and non-academic issues. On the Executive Committee level, the sharing of programs among colleges and institutes so that e may learn from This will also develop solidarity among the different units.
Support for and from our Alumni
The alumni have greatly contributed to academic programs, infrastructure and other needs of the University. This is in keeping with the value of being Iskolar ng Bayan. We will maintain and further develop close ties with the UP Alumni Association and alumni associations of the various colleges through regular communication. This must be a two-way process. We shall endeavour that this relation will not only consist in identifying what the alumni can contribute to UP but also what UP can do for them as professionals and/or citizens here or abroad
Rational Financial Base of the University
This can be realized through a more rationalized and clearly allocated funding for UP Diliman, one that will closely monitor expenditure, prioritize projects, eliminate duplications and maximize resources and benefits in a way that is transparent. I will cooperate in the endeavour to achieve a long-term budgetary support for UP and prompt the national government to what is clearly stated in the UP Charter, “[I]t is the policy of the State to strengthen the University of the Philippines as the national university.”[2] There is a need for us to pool our efforts to make the national government appreciated and understand the necessity of MOOE for the proper maintenance of the newly built and existing infrastructures. The state budgetary allocation must be the primary soruce of funding for the University. However, the Charter provides for the utilization of the University resources to augment funding based on a transparent framework and process: “[It] shall be consistent with the academic mission and orientation of the national university, as well as protect it from undue influence and control of commercial interest…” [and subject for approval after a] “transparent and democratic process of consultation with the constituents of the national university.” [3]
Innovation and Democratization
There is a joke that has been making the rounds in the Internet about prestigious universities. The joke is relevant because it is directly favorable to UP:
UST - We accept only wise students.
La Salle - We accept only students who are great.
Ateneo - We accept only the best students.
UP - We don't accept the best, the great, or the wisest students.... we make them that way.
UP is excellent not because its students, faculty, REPS and Staff are excellent from the start. They get better and become the best because of the University. If the objective is to recreate UP for the new century, it is necessary for the University to reconsider and emphasize its task for the Iskolar ng Bayan and national development with transparency, accountablitiy and democratic governance. These are significant enabling conditions for the thriving of the culture of innovation among the members of the UP Diliman community, the same condtions that will foster our greater contribution to national development.
[1] University of the Philippines Charter of 2008, ibid.
[2] “Section 2. Declaration of Policy,” ibid.
[3] “Section 22. Land Grants and Other Real Properties of the University,’’ ibid.
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