by Faustino Tarongoy, Jr, CTTL

Forty-one faculty members representing different college departments and the XU JPR School of Medicine, together with 25 educators from neighboring higher education institutions (HEIs) were privileged to participate in the Seminar-Workshop on Academic Practices (SWAP) facilitated by the Transformative Academic Practice for Higher Education in the Philippines (TAPHEP) Project in collaboration with Xavier University as a partner institution. The workshop was held last 23 August 2023, at the XU Grade School-Macasandig Auditorium.

The TAPHEP Project is a Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-funded project led by UPLB in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, UP Open University, and 18 other private and public HE institutions in the country. The project is intended to help capacitate Philippine HEIs in academic practices to advance the quality of higher education which will facilitate establishing a Community of Practice (CoP) among Philippine HEIs. The workshop is one of those being conducted in several HEIs partners of TAPHEP and is open to private and public HEIs.

The TAPHEP Project and SWAP was introduced by Dr Anna Floresca F Firmalino, TAPHEP co-lead, who also led the team of resource lecturers. She explained the context of Academic Practice (AP) and the importance of enhancing it to further teaching careers and learning environments. Being one of the first cohort to complete the Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice (PGCAP) modules at the University of Liverpool as part of the TAPHEP Project, she elucidated the nationwide conduct of SWAP to disseminate the learnings about the major tenets of AP.

The SWAP was divided into three modules with corresponding subtopics and lecturers. The first module on Context was delivered by Dr Cenie V Malabanan of MSU-IIT’s Center for eLearning wherein she presented on The Purpose of a University, Relevant Frameworks for Effective Teaching and Learning in HE, and the Global Context and Landscape of HE. The workshop on Teaching Practice and Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) engaged the participants to examine their teaching practices and experiences and concerns with equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion or inclusivity in their teaching practice.

Dr Richard P Jugar, a Full Professor of the University of San Carlos took the second module on Concept as he elaborated on Theories of Learning, Constructive Alignment, and the Philosophy of Teaching and Reflective Teaching, alongside activities to reinforce and validate the participants’ practice and experiences. The participants went through a workshop on critical self-reflection of their teaching practices using Brookfield’s Lenses facilitated by Dr Jugar himself.

The third module on Practice was taken on by Dr Adrian M Tulod, an Associate Professor of Central Mindanao University. He delivered lectures on Inclusive Learning Environments, Continuing Professional Development, and Communities of Practice. His workshop on Mentoring engaged the participants to develop a draft of a five-year career plan for a chosen “mentee” selected from their groupings. The last workshop on CoP entailed the participants assessing areas in the academic practice with the greatest potential to establish a CoP, examining the strategies, barriers, and enabling factors for such establishment.

The seminar-workshop was capped with Fr Mars Tan, SJ, Xavier University President, giving his message onsite to the participants and organizers as well. He expressed his utmost gratitude to the TAPHEP project leaders, the UPLB, and CHED for the opportunity given to Xavier University to partner in the project.

Mr Albin Jay C Tabamo, a faculty member and Research Coordinator for Xavier University’s School of Education, hosted the workshop with sixty-six participants coming from Capitol University, Christ the King College (Gingoog City), Liceo de Cagayan University, Mountain View College, Northern Bukidnon State College, Opol Community College, Pilgrim Christian College, Salay Community College, University of Science and Technology in Southern Philippines, Valencia Colleges and Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan.

The organization of this leg of SWAP was led by Dr Kathleen Mallorca Morales, Assistant Professor V from our School of Education and Assistant to the VPHE for Curriculum and Instruction with the Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (CTTL). Dr Morales belongs to the second cohort who recently completed the PGCAP.

Fr Mars P Tan, SJ

Speakers and Facilitating Team with Fr Mars Tan, SJ, Dr Kathleen Morales, and Ms Cathy Gaite

The Participants and the Facilitating Team with Fr Mars Tan, SJ