The Extension Services Office and the Department of Industrial and Information Technology of Cavite State University – Carmona Campus successfully held the training titled “ExCEL: Expanding Community Engagement through Learning in Industrial and Information Technology” on April 25, 2025. The event took place from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the campus Audio-Visual Room, gathering faculty and student extensionists in a day-long collaborative effort to integrate community engagement into academic instruction.

This initiative aims to integrate the TO-SERVE Project, a key component of the ongoing CvSUCCESS extension program, into academic programs—reinforcing higher education’s role in addressing social and economic disparities.

The training began with an opening program led by Dr. Regene G. Hernandez, department chairperson, who highlighted the significance of aligning academic outputs with institutional extension goals. Mr. Jhumel C. Ignas, TO-SERVE project leader, followed with a session that contextualized the goals and impacts of the project, emphasizing its community-based approach.

A key session facilitated by Ms. Omega R. Gresola, faculty extensionist, guided participants through a critical review of course syllabi, focusing on how course content and structure can align with the University’s mission of service and engagement. A follow-up session led by Dr. Hernandez showcased best practices in Gender and Development (GAD) integration based on recent trainings.

In the afternoon, Ms. Janine B. Bacosmo, campus extension services coordinator and CvSUCCESS program leader, discussed methods for embedding TO-SERVE project and other extension initiatives into academic syllabi, setting the tone for the practical, hands-on workshop that followed. Participants actively revised their course syllabi to reflect both GAD and extension principles, which were later reviewed.

The training concluded with the awarding of certificates and closing remarks from Asst. Prof. Rochelle C. Malabayabas, program coordinator of BS Industrial Technology, who lauded the collaborative spirit and proactive engagement of the faculty.

Looking ahead, the ExCEL initiative is set to continue in the coming months, with other departments and academic programs scheduled to undergo similar trainings. This campus-wide rollout ensures that all units contribute to a unified approach in integrating extension work and community relevance into higher education instruction.