West Visayas State University, founded on grounds of hard work, service, and excellence, has stood the tests of time for 119 years.
This year though, on June 16, WVSU’s celebration deviated from the usual get-together at the university’s Jubilee Park. Everything was pre-recorded and held online.
Despite the limitation, the message was delivered: research and innovation are not impossible even in times of Covid-19
Dr. Joselito Villaruz, WVSU President, recalled how WVSU shifted into the asynchronous learning modality online “instantaneously”, expediting policies and administration requirements to suit the call of the time. He then pointed out that there is a deluge of data and proliferation of big devices, helping making education possible. “We are expected to use the data to lubricate our research activities and decisions. I am challenged to revisit our curriculum to integrate data analytics. WVSU must be cognizant of endless possibilities.” Education 4.0 and a Smart University system are also rallied for by Dr. Villaruz, considering revisiting the curriculum, re-scaling and upscaling of the faculty to introduce data science, digital literacy and citizenship , even artificial intelligence. He added that to ensure continuity amidst pandemic, the University must be prepared for this is the new normal, “We need to embrace flexible learning, dedicating ourselves to online and virtual mode, and conduct only limited face-to-face classes for OJTs, skills learning, and laboratory activities.”
Dr. Purita P. Bilbao, retired WVSU Professor and part-time professor at the Graduate School of the College of Education of the University, shared the findings of her research in tracing the beginnings of WVSU. The Act 74 in 1900 was the organic law of the Philippines drafted by Dr. Fred Atkinson, under the Bureau of Education, which was dedicated to the training of Filipino teachers. Act 74 was amended as Act 372 which was instrumental in establishing three schools—including what is now known as West Visayas State University. Dr. Bilbao congratulated everyone whose lives were touched by WVSU. To end her talk, she posed a challenge, “Where do we go from here? Higher, faster, stronger, one WVSU!”
Dr. Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla, Vice President for Academic Affairs, commended everyone for surviving the changes brought by Covid-19 and she assured, “WVSU will thrive as we do our share of making her proud so that in the years , even centuries to come, her name will continue to resound strongly.”
Also during the Founding Anniversary , outstanding researchers and extensionists, and loyal employees were recognized. During the awarding, Dr. Greta G. Gabinete, Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training, spoke that indeed, the groundworks towards becoming a research university has been laid out and WVSU has to continue proving that in research and innovation, “Basta taga-West, the best!”.#