Learning support to CPAf students now online

by Stella Concepcion R. Britanico

The College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf) provides learning support to students virtually particularly in their online submission of academic requirements and requests for information resources. UPLB suspended classes and work in most offices on March 17, 2020 with the declaration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon. Office operations in the University only resumed on June 8.

Since the start of the ECQ, the Institute for Governance and Rural Development (IGRD) of CPAf, through its faculty members, sustains communication with their students using social networking sites and other online portals. According to Dr. Jaine C. Reyes, IGRD director, some courses are already in blended mode (the use of both traditional classroom method and online learning platforms, i.e., Edmodo, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams Meet) even before the ECQ. “Since classes were suspended, holding of classes also ceased. The teacher-learner interaction is mostly asynchronous online consultations and discussions, and provision of information resources”, Dr. Reyes said.

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CPAf students and other UPLB graduate students initiate fundraising for medical frontliners

by Stoix Nebin S. Pascua

CPAf students and other UPLB graduate students were able to raise more than Php320,000 to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) and other hospital supplies for medical frontliners in Laguna and Bulacan.

“Sa PPE nakasalalay ang kaligtasan ng ating mga frontliners (Our frontliners depend on the PPE for their safety),” explained Ms. Rubiriza Resuello, one of the founding members of Pagkalinga and a CPAf graduate student taking PhD in Community Development.

Pagkalinga, meaning “to care”, is a movement initiated by eight CPAf graduate students taking PhD in Community Development, Extension Education, and Development Studies. They were later joined by several UPLB graduate students who share a common cause to reach out and give hope to communities in need. From April 12 to 30, Pagkalinga facilitated “Project Pag-abot”, a donation drive to keep healthcare professionals safe from COVID-19. 

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KMO revisits mandate, creates 3-year roadmap

by Stella Concepcion R. Britanico

Now on its seventh year, the Knowledge Management Office (KMO) of CPAf reviewed its accomplishments, revisited its mandate, and planned and prioritized activities and tasks.

Held on March 5, 2020 at the KMO Training Room, the KMO review and planning workshop was designed for review, reflection, planning, and tasking. Atty. Damcelle T. Cortes, assistant professor of CPAf, designed and facilitated the workshop.

Since its operation in July 2012, the KMO has been extending various support services to the College. To give an overview of what the Office has achieved so far, Dr. Evelie P. Serrano, the current KMO head, shared the key accomplishments during the leadership of former KMO heads, Prof. Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero and Dr. Jaine C. Reyes. She also presented the recent outputs since she assumed the KMO head position in August 2018 as well as the ongoing and future activities of the Office.

Established under the Office of the Dean when CPAf was restructured in 2011, the KMO has three components consistent with its mandates/aims: modernized library, knowledge generation and exchange hub, and academic and administrative monitoring and evaluation nexus. Atty. Cortes dubbed these three major functions of the KMO as resource hub, learning center, and MIS office, respectively.

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