Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) continues to raise the bar for academic excellence and global relevance with a one-day faculty training titled, "Advancing Educators' Professional Competence in Pursuit of Academic Excellence and Alignment with Institutional and International Standards."
Held on July 21, 2025, at the CEn AVR, this capacity-building initiative gathered college deans, campus directors, and program chairs from various colleges and campuses for a day of deep reflection, technical discussions, and shared commitments.
The training was spearheaded by the Director of the Office of Instruction, Asst. Prof. Percival C. Verano, in coordination with the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Dhenalyn Aquino-Dejelo. The activity aimed to equip SLSU educators with the necessary tools, frameworks, and awareness to align with institutional and international standards in higher education.
During the opening program, University President Dr. Frederick T. Villa inspired participants with a challenge to embrace change and adaptability in the academic profession.
“Our competence is our currency,” he emphasized. “If we cannot exceed expectations, at the very least, let us keep up. We must remain adaptable, because the demands of quality education are ever-evolving.”
This message resonated throughout the day, as speakers laid down practical ways to meet—and sustain—high academic standards.
Asst. Prof. Verano delivered a focused discussion centered on key academic operations. His talk included the Policy Manual, addressing nonconformities and corrective actions, as well as updates on the syllabus format and grading system. Participants were reminded of the importance of aligning their classroom practices and documentation with institutional guidelines to prevent compliance issues during audits and assessments.
Asst. Prof. Mariebeth P. Seño, University Registrar, walked the faculty through SLSU’s admission to graduation policies, highlighting the processes that ensure smooth and fair academic progression for students. Her session allowed educators to better understand how policies are interconnected and essential to student success and institutional credibility.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vanessa C. Zubieta, Dean of the College of Teacher Education, provided an in-depth lecture on the Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) Framework. She underscored how OBE empowers both educators and students by shifting focus from content delivery to the achievement of measurable outcomes.
A significant moment in the training was the collective discussion on the OBE Framework developed by the College of Engineering (CEn). Participants expressed hope that this initiative could pave the way for SLSU to establish its own institutional OBE Framework, one that is rooted in the university’s unique academic identity and responsive to international standards.
In her closing message, Dr. Dejelo thanked all participants and speakers, expressing optimism that this training will directly lead to a future with fewer or no nonconformities during institutional and accreditation audits.
This training directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
– 𝑺𝑫𝑮 4: 𝑸𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏– By improving faculty competence, the program ensures more effective, inclusive, and high-quality education for all students.
– 𝑺𝑫𝑮 8: 𝑫𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉 – The training empowers educators with updated skills and policies, promoting professional growth and improved workplace performance.
– 𝑺𝑫𝑮 16: 𝑷𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 – Institutional strengthening through policy alignment and audit compliance promotes transparency and quality assurance.
– 𝑺𝑫𝑮 17: 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒂𝒍𝒔 – Collaboration across departments and academic leaders reflects the essence of strategic partnerships in delivering sustainable development goals.
This training marked more than a one-day seminar—it became a call to action. As SLSU moves forward in its academic journey, this activity reaffirmed the university’s dedication to producing competent educators, upholding global standards, and ensuring that every learner benefits from a system grounded in integrity, excellence, and innovation.
Photos and Article: Instruction Office