Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan and architecture design firm Aidea Inc teamed up for a vital three-day programming workshop on 13-15 November 2023, at XU's AVR 1. Aidea led the effort to integrate XU's beliefs, culture, and aspirations into the design of the Campus of the Future with focus on Ignatian values. On 17 November 2023, the collective ideas from these sessions were presented to the Board of Trustees and the Steering Committee of the Campus of the Future. This workshop was a big step for XU's goal of being a top ASEAN university by 2033 through the Masterson Campus.

The programming workshop, a synergy of minds among XU’s stakeholders, saw a series of interactive activities unfold between XU and Aidea. Dedicated to the crafting of the design of the Campus of the Future, it posed a fundamental question: "What defines the Campus of the Future?" Aidea, with a keen focus on the learners, aspires to create an environment that caters to their multifaceted needs, fostering academically excellent, holistically developed, socially engaged, and globally competitive individuals. At the core of this venture lies the challenge of designing a forward-thinking campus that involves creativity and the engagement of stakeholders and users.

XU’s partner architecture firm structured its approach into three distinctive stages throughout the workshop, mirroring the journey of the learners: Day 1 focused on the rite of passage; Day 2 delved into the personification of space to craft the learner's experience; and Day 3 concentrated on enhancing the environment, making it an optimal space for the learners. These stages were carefully designed to establish frameworks and guiding principles, streamlining decision-making in the campus design process. Throughout the three-day workshop, the Aidea team also conducted enlightening video interviews, capturing the diverse perspectives of faculty, staff, and students. 

During the presentation of outputs to the Board of Trustees and the Steering Committee of the Campus of the Future, CSG President Adam Emmanuel Guanzon, representing the Day 1 group, delineated the learner's journey by posing a pivotal question: "What challenges do heroes face?"  The group’s insights revealed the challenges that learners encounter as leaders in various aspects of life. A priority canvas was employed to categorize challenges based on their impact, leading to the development of a learner's journey map canvas, identifying potential solutions and methodologies.

Day 2 spokesperson OICN Director Shiella C Balbutin, PhD built upon the groundwork laid on Day 1. The emphasis was on the transformation of every area of the campus into an opportunity for learning and personal development. Participants, divided into groups, envisioned the Campus of the Future, focusing on space personification to create zones fostering collaboration, idea exchange, community, and engagement. Key qualities for the learning environment were outlined: transformative, innovative and smart, integrative, humanistic, and sustainable.

Day 3 representative XCCA Director Hobart P Savior, PhD focused on creating a livable environment for the future campus. The group formulated strategies emphasizing flexibility, human-centered design, adaptability, and environmental responsibility. The activities aimed to energize the campus as a dynamic learning enterprise.

XU President Fr Mars P Tan, SJ was both excited and hopeful for the outcome of the workshop as he actively participated in the activities. He described the workshop “as an opportune time for the university leadership to come together to decide on the design framework for the architecture of the Campus of the Future.” He added that “in the 3-day process, many important matters related to the school's vision, guiding principles, graduate's holistic profile, and existing challenges were presented, discussed, and defined. The active engagements of workshop participants and the trustees were quite encouraging and contributed significantly to the success of the design workshop."

Also involved during the activity was VP for Higher Education Juliet Q Dalagan, PhD who saw it as an opportunity to contemplate on XU’s identity and how it will be integrated into the future campus. "The AIDEA workshop was a reflective process of reviewing, discerning who we are as a University. It was enlightening, challenging and exciting at the same time. Imagining the Campus of the Future ignited our creative and innovative juices."

VP for Social Development Engr Dexter S Lo was likewise appreciative saying he liked the process “because it allowed us to dig deep back into our roots as to why we are doing this mission called Xavier Ateneo and it gave us an opportunity, at different levels of management and operations, to be heard and to contribute to the design and (later) building of what Xavier of the Future (not just Campus of the Future) will be.” He added that he also sees the process as an “affirmation of we have been doing in the past 90 years and counting. That it is essential to involve stakeholders in the process, but also to learn from specialists, and to trust the wisdom of the leadership. For me, the Campus of the Future is where formation happens for a better future."   

Another participant, XU Culture and Arts Director Hobart P Savior, PhD, expressed his wishes for “a strong leadership within the university and for arts and culture to be an integral part of academic life, offering courses and performances that hold significance in people's lives.”

Meantime, XU BOT Chair Frank Guerra says he envisioned the New Campus as an innovative campus which would continue to promote the university as a Jesuit University but also welcoming of other religions.

The workshop concluded with each group creating a magazine cover showcasing their vision for the Campus of the Future. It is perceived as a milestone in the construction and design of the new campus, one that resonates deeply with the XU community and its values. It is a testament to the commitment of both XU and Aidea to shape a future-ready educational environment that aligns with the evolving needs of learners and the broader community. The blueprint for the Campus of the Future is not merely a design on paper but a reflection of the shared values and aspirations that will propel Xavier University towards excellence in the ASEAN region.

 

By
Dinah May Rondina, Office of the Campus of the Future
Communications & Promotions Office