COMMUNITY EXTENSION. The Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines urges state universities and colleges to bring their services to the community through extension projects. (From L-R) Dr. Angelo C. Alcala, a national scientist from Silliman University, Dr. Napoleon Juanilo Jr., director of the Office of Planning, Research and Knowledge Management of CHED and Dr. Candida B. Adalla of the National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System. (Maria Patricia C. Borromeo/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education conducted a national extension conference on higher education to urge schools to create extension projects to bring teachers and scientists closer to communities.
In a press conference held at Grand Regal Hotel on Tuesday, Dr. Napoleon Juanilo Jr. director on the office of planning, research and knowledge management of CHED said they want all the state universities and colleges to prioritize extension education for students to become “engine(s) of innovation”.
“Extension education means colleges and universities are working with various community partners so that they can improve the way they teach and can also improve the learning experiences of the students inside and outside campuses,” he said.
Juanilo said the extension projects they envision are purpose-specific “utilizing the best available data, science, and evidences from a range of disciplines to help society.”
He said their aim is to “interiorize” the schools through the campaign on extension project in public or private schools to become the platforms for innovations.
“When we say innovations it means, these schools will look for solutions, try to discover, try to search for answers through these extension projects with community involvement, so they can produce an army of thinkers,” he said.
He added that schools should support students in becoming creative thinkers, solution providers who may help in the economic development as they graduate.
“Schools should produce Filipinos that can basically use their intellectual capital for economic enterprises to transform them as well as their families and the lives of their communities,” he said.
Dr. Candida B. Adalla, from national agriculture and fisheries education system also said the extension projects will help students to immerse into industries that will inspire them get into entrepreneurial activities once they graduate, especially in agribusiness.
“We will expose our students to industry situations, they will see what are the problems in our industry so that they get inspiration to establish their own agribusiness industry,” she said.
Adalla said the schools can decide how they will put in place programs that will respond on the extension projects focusing on agriculture and fisheries.(davaotoday.com)
