Ditucalan convenes leaders of NorMin SUCs to enhance social development in higher education

by Michelle Jeanne Caracut | May 22 2024

In a bid to foster collaborative efforts to address crucial issues in higher education in Region X, Chancellor Alizedney M. Ditucalan convened leaders from various State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the region for a one-day meeting inside the MSU-IIT campus.

The meeting that was held on May 9, 2024 at the University Boardroom aimed to generate proposals on important topics that will be presented during the 2nd Quarter Regional Development Council - Social Development Committee (RDC-SDC) meeting.

The Regional Development Council sets the direction of social development within a region and through which regional development efforts shall be coordinated.

Participating SUCs were 猫咪AVat Naawan; Bukidnon State University; Northern Bukidnon State College; Camiguin Polytechnic State College; Central Mindanao University; Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology; and University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines.

The Iligan City National School of Fisheries and the Oroquieta Agro-Industrial School were also represented at the meeting in light of their imminent conversion into the Iligan City Polytechnic State College and the Misamis Occidental State College, respectively.

With MSU-IIT taking the lead in the discussions, the Presidents and representatives of the participating SUCs tackled the following three topics: (1) Addition of expenditure item in the National Expenditure Program on the internationalization of SUC research; (2) Utilization of cost-of-living index per region on rationalizing tuition fees; and (3) Equity in the distribution of student financial assistance slots to the region.

According to Chancellor Ditucalan in an interview, the meeting was a crucial step towards aligning the goals and aspirations of local SUCs with the broader regional and national development plans.

“By fostering collaborative efforts and encouraging open dialogue, this meeting set the stage for positive changes within the higher education landscape of Northern Mindanao,” he said.

The addition of expenditure items in the NEP for the internationalization of SUC research represents a strategic investment in enhancing the global competitiveness, research excellence, and knowledge exchange capabilities of Philippine higher education institutions. This investment not only benefits the academic community but also holds the potential to drive economic growth and societal development.

Ditucalan reported that it was agreed during the meeting that SUCs from Region-X would develop a regional Strategic Internationalization Plan (SIP).

Addressing the issue of regional disparities, the meeting also focused on the utilization of cost of living data to rationalize tuition fees. By taking into account the varying economic conditions across the Northern Mindanao region, this approach aimed to promote fairness and equity in education.

Ditucalan said that the body agreed to develop a proposal on the ideal rate of tuition fees for Region-X.

Another important topic that was discussed was the distribution of student financial assistance slots. The SUC leaders recognized the need to ensure equal opportunities for students within the region. By addressing any imbalance in the allocation of financial assistance, SUC leaders hoped to provide greater support to students from underprivileged backgrounds, enabling them to pursue higher education without financial constraints.

To enhance educational opportunities for all students, the body discussed prioritizing equity in the distribution of said slots.

During the meeting, it was agreed upon that participating SUCs would contribute more data from their respective institutions to enrich and finalize the proposals.

Ditucalan said that the SUCs will reconvene to present and discuss details of the proposals before submitting these to the Commission on Higher Education- Region X.

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