schoolscolleges2020 hed news


TRAINING COOP LEADERS. Xavier Ateneo and Climbs Life and General Insurance Cooperative ink partnership to offer an executive education program for coop leaders. From left to right: Climbs Institute of Financial Literacy executive director Donna Dizon, Climbs executive vice-president and chief financial officer Admarie Marcelo CPA, Climbs president and chief executive officer Fermin Gonzales, Xavier Ateneo president Fr Roberto Yap SJ, School of Business and Management dean Dr Ruth Love Valenzona-Russell, and associate dean Dr Rustum Dy Cezar Gevero. Photo by Bernadette Bete. 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan and Climbs Life and General Insurance Cooperative joined forces to design the modules for an executive education program to respond to the training needs of coop leaders. 

In the signing of the memorandum of agreement on November 21 at The VIP Hotel, the two parties agreed that the executive education program will be conducted by Xavier Ateneo’s School of Business and Management through the Climbs Institute of Financial Literacy.

“Xavier is very pleased that we have entered into this partnership with the Climbs. One of the key principles of the Jesuit mission is lifelong education and part of it is offering executive education programs,” said Xavier Ateneo president Fr Roberto "Bobby" C Yap SJ.

“We are happy that we are doing this with the Climbs. ... Xavier believes in the values of cooperatives and cooperativism. Through this executive education program, we will be able to improve the financial literacy and management of our coops,” Yap added.

XU's School of Business and Management (SBM) dean Dr Ruth Love Valenzona-Russell, associate dean Dr Rustum Dy Cezar Gevero, Climbs Institute of Financial Literacy executive director Donna Dizon, and Climbs executive vice-president and chief financial officer Admarie Marcelo served as witnesses in the MOA signing.

Xavier and Climbs jointly agreed to conduct the first executive session for the school year 2017-2018 for the members of Climbs. 

Besides conducting the executive education program in Cagayan de Oro City, the implementation may include Climbs sites in Luzon and Visayas.

“We embark on this program precisely to help our coop leaders, members, and their management staff to enhance their [management] skills,” said Climbs president and chief executive officer Fermin Gonzales. 

“It’s very important for them to appreciate also that insurance is an important component of their lives, just like when Sendong happened and a lot of coop members were affected,” Gonzales shared, adding that members were able to claim their insurance from Climbs following the disaster in December 2011. 

For the first run of the Climbs Executive Education Program, there will be three modules covering core business and management subjects and a special course. 

The participants will undergo lectures and workshops in leadership, marketing, cooperative management, and business ethics, among other topics.∎


TRAINING COOP LEADERS. Xavier Ateneo and Climbs Life and General Insurance Cooperative ink partnership to offer an executive education program for coop leaders. Photo by Bernadette Bete.