Shaping the BU Hiraya Way | BU admin undergoes 3-day Foresight, Futures Thinking Workshop

To prepare Bicol University’s future direction in the next 30 years, the university key officials, deans, associate deans, directors, and heads of offices and units underwent a three-day workshop on Foresight and Future Thinking dubbed Shaping the BU Hiraya Way, held at the Patio de San Jose, Malilipot Albay, on September 14 to 16, 2022.

To make sure that foresight and futures thinking methods and tools are integrated, the activity allowed active participation and engagement with the participants in understanding the current landscape and potential trajectory of the university, as well as in planning their respective offices and units.

The first day of the workshop sought to understand and introduce the foresight and futures thinking while integrating foresight techniques into the present planning and policymaking processes, as presented by one of the resource speakers - Dr. Lizan Perante-Calina, Dean of the Graduate School of Public and Development Management, Development Management of the Philippines (DAP-GSPDM). Activities and workshop on scenario-building were incorporated.

The second day focused on the foresight and futures thinking tools and methodologies discussed by Dr. Reginald G. Ugaddan, Director and College Secretary of the Center for Public Administration and Governance Education at UP-NCPAG, and Project Director of the UP-NCPAG Governance Futures Lab University of the Philippines, Diliman.

On the last day of the workshop, Dr. Kristoffer B. Berse led the identification and evaluation of future scenarios that stirred up conversations of future education, work, technology, services, training, and research of the university.

The concluding program presented the final blueprints of the university. Six teams were created to plan their final presentations. Each team presented their foresight and futures thinking plan for the university while applying the components of SWOT analysis alongside strategy identification and backcasting.

For the Office of the President, Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin D. Nebres III represented the team and proposed a borderless university. Meanwhile, for the research team, Dr. Elmer Lorenzana presented a value-driven research engagement followed by an engine of economic development for the extension group, as presented by Prof. Rowena Zoilo. For the planning team, Engr. Anna Abante focused on resource generation. Atty. Joseph L. Bartolata, for the administrative section, presented sound fiscal management. Lastly, the team of academic deans and directors was proposed by Prof. Jocelyn Serrano highlighting the problems, proposed solutions in instruction and the imaginable future set-up in teaching and learning.

Afterward, Prof. Alwin Joseph Maceres, one of the organizers, delivered a wrap-up conclusion of the event. The workshop was spearheaded by the BU Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight Committee headed by Dr. Samuel C. Bobiles, with members - Prof. Carlos V. Cortez, Prof. Alwin Joseph M. Maceres, Dr. Dimson M. Rivero, and Prof. Pee Jay N. Gealone, and secretariats - Abigail Jo M. Abainza, who also served as the lady of ceremonies, Riza Garcia, Aliana Joy Carillo, and Christine Manrique. | by Arnold C. Noda, CPRO