Pres. Yepes to new faculty: Exciting things are coming to us this school year

As the university opens a brand new school year, around 300 newly hired faculty members across the five campuses of the Visayas State University system gather at the RDE Hall today, August 12, 2024.

In this event, VSU President Prof. Dr. Prose Ivy Guasa Yepes welcomed all of the new teaching recruits and provided them some exciting things to come for the university with the recent completion of the Scenario-Based Strategic Foresight Workshop that includes greater capacitation for junior researchers and faculty members, and implementing a programs-based approach in budgeting process that will prioritize key infrastructure projects to repair and improve existing classroom facilities, among many others.

You can read the whole speech delivered by the VSU President below:

My respect to the VSU Key Officials—our Vice Presidents and Chancellors, Deans, Department Heads, Office Directors and Unit Heads, dear faculty, everyone who is here today, a pleasant Monday morning. 

Welcome to the opening of Academic Year 2024-2025. First off, I want to start by extending my deepest gratitude to each of you for your dedication and hard work throughout the past academic year. Our efforts have culminated in a successful commencement season starting 2 weeks ago from the VITA campuses to the Main Campus Commencement Rites last week, where our graduates proudly received their Transcripts of Records and Diplomas which marked a significant milestone in their academic journey.

As we look ahead, there is much to be excited about. This year, we will be unveiling an updated vision, mission, goals, and objectives that will set the course for our university's future following the two-week strategic planning that we had last July. Our direction is clear: we are committed to future-proofing our institution, with a focus on micro-credentialing and ensuring our programs remain relevant in an ever-evolving world.

One of our key priorities is to capacitate our junior researchers, equipping them with the skills and resources necessary to produce more Scopus-indexed research. This is vital not only for their professional growth but also for the university’s standing in the academic community.

Starting in 2025, our budgeting process will undergo a significant shift, moving to a program-based approach. This means our financial resources will be allocated based on the key priorities identified in our strategic planning. This change will allow us to more effectively channel our efforts towards areas that will have the greatest impact on our university’s growth and development.

I am pleased to share that, after much anticipation, our Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP) has finally been endorsed by the national Technical Working Group. This endorsement is an important step forward to pave the way for the realization of our long-term infrastructure goals.

We are also committed to addressing the issues and concerns raised by both students and faculty, particularly regarding classroom availability and conditions. I ask for your continued cooperation as we work together through communication, coordination, and collaboration to ensure that these challenges are met head-on.

For this semester, we will be implementing three critical repairs: the Food Science Laboratory, the College of Nursing Laboratory, and the infirmary. Additionally, we are in the planning stages for two priority academic buildings—the former DLABS building and the CME building. Rest assured, the designing and repairs of other facilities will follow as we progress.

Moreover, the construction of the 80-million academic building will soon commence, alongside several other significant projects spearheaded by the DPWH. These developments will greatly enhance our campus infrastructure, providing a better learning environment for our students and faculty alike.

I encourage each of you to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Together, let’s continue to build on our successes, striving for excellence in all that we do. Here’s to another productive and fulfilling academic year at VSU!

Thank you, and let’s make this academic year one of our best yet. Mabuhay and God bless us all!

The faculty onboarding program is an initiative of the Office of the Director for Instruction and Evaluation (ODIE) under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA). 

[This article aligns with Sustainable Development Goals: 4 (Quality Education), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).]

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