UP: Shaping Minds that Shape the Nation

U.P. Strategic Plan

2011-2017

Padayon UP! Onward UP!

On the Path to Greatness
in the 21st Century
 Table of Contents

Message from the President

Mandate as the National University 2

Rights and Responsibilities 3

Guiding Principles 5

STRATEGIC PLANNING FRAMEWORK

The Path to Greatness 6

Our Vision for UP 8

One University, One UP 9

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Research and Creative Work 12

Education 14

Public Service 16

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Administrative Ef�iciency 18

Financial Sustainability 22

Making UP a Great University 26

 Message from the President

Hon. Alfredo E. Pascual

T he University of the Philippines has begun its journey to becoming a great univer-
sity in the 21st century. Our UP Strategic Plan 2011-2017 which we have formu-
lated through a series of workshops and consultations with all concerned of�ices and
sectors lays the building blocks of the path we will follow.

Since 1908, UP has served the people by educating the best and the brightest of
the country’s youth and preparing them to become leaders in their chosen �ields. By
shaping minds that shape the nation, UP has distinguished itself among the prominent
higher education institutions in Asia and the world.

In the wake of technological advancements and global interconnectedness, UP

maintains a leading role in tertiary education by developing programs and instituting
units that respond to the country’s emerging needs. Our university continues to
produce graduates and specialists who live up to the tradition of honor and excellence
in the service of the people. During times of political or economic uncertainties, UP
actively participates as social critics and catalysts for change.

Recent international surveys showed the ranking of UP and other top Philippine
universities falling behind leading higher education institutions in other countries.
This situation prompts us to further boost our efforts to modernize our educational
programs and transform UP into a research-intensive university. At the same time,
UP is improving its academic and operational performance in pursuit of greater social
relevance.

I am con�ident that through our concerted action and with your untiring support,
we can succeed in making UP a great university in the 21st century. I trust that UP will
become more resolute in responding to our nation’s needs as we aspire for genuine
national development.

Mabuhay ang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas! Mabuhay tayong lahat!

UP Diliman graduates cheer at the 101st Commencement Exercises held on April 22, 2012 at the Quezon Hall Amphitheater, UP Diliman, Quezon City (Jun Madrid, UP SIO).

U.P. Strategic Plan

2011-2017

Padayon UP! Onward UP!

On the Path to Greatness
in the 21st Century
 Mandate as the National University

Under its Charter of 2008 (Republic Act 9500), UP is mandated to perform its unique
and distinctive leadership in higher education and development.

The University of the Philippines shall:

• Lead in setting academic standards and initiating innovations in teaching,

research, and faculty development in philosophy, the arts and humanities, the
social sciences, engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, and technology; and
maintain centers of excellence in these disciplines and professions.

• Serve as a graduate university by providing advanced studies and specialization

for scholars, scientists, writers, artists, and professionals especially those who
serve on the faculty of state and private colleges and universities.

• Serve as a research university in various �ields of expertise and specialization by

conducting basic and applied research, promoting research and development,
and contributing to the dissemination and application of knowledge.

• Lead as a public service university by providing various forms of community,

public and volunteer service, as well as scholarly and technical assistance to the
government, the private sector, and civil society while maintaining its standards
of excellence.

• Protect and promote the professional and economic rights and welfare of its
academic and non-academic personnel.

• Provide opportunities for training and learning in leadership, responsible

citizenship, and the development of democratic values, institutions, and
practice through academic and non-academic programs, including sports and
enhancement of nationalism and national identity.

• Serve as a regional and global university in cooperation with international

and scienti�ic unions, networks of universities, scholarly and professional
associations in the Asia Paci�ic Region and around the world.

• Provide democratic governance based on collegiality, representation,

accountability, transparency, and active participation of its constituents; and
promote the holding of fora for students, faculty, research, extension and
professional staff (REPS), administrative staff, and alumni to discuss non-
academic issues affecting the University.

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UP Diliman graduates sing the UP Hymn at the Commencement Exercises in April 2011 at the Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City (UP SIO).

Rights and Responsibilities

Academic Freedom

• UP has the right and responsibility to exercise academic freedom.

Academic Excellence

• UP has the responsibility to maintain and enhance its high academic standards in
the performance of its functions of instruction, research and extension, and public
service.

Commitment to National Development

• UP shall harness the expertise of the members of its community and other
individuals to regularly study the state of the nation in relation to its quest for
national development in the primary areas of politics and economics, among others.

• UP shall identify key concerns, conduct research and formulate responsive policies
regarding these concerns, give advice and recommendations to the President of
the Philippines, Congress, the Supreme Court, the lower courts, other government
agencies and instrumentalities.

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The UP Pep Squad performs in the Elev80’s dance concert on February 29, 2012 at the University Theater, UP Diliman, Quezon City (El Bacani, UP SIO). Concerned UP constituents
participate in Takbo Para Sa Japan on July 23, 2011 at the Academic Oval, UP Diliman (Jun Madrid, UP SIO). The UP Padayon team, together with city officers and NGOs, visits affected
communities in Iligan City on December 27, 2011 after storm Sendong hit Northern Mindanao (Dr. Ferdinand Llanes).

Social Responsibility

• UP is committed to serve the Filipino nation and humanity, and relate its activities
to the needs of the Filipino people and their aspirations for social progress and
transformation, and provide venues for student voluntarism.

Democratic Access

• UP shall take af�irmative steps, which may take the form of an alternative and
equitable admissions process to enhance the access of disadvantaged students.

Sports

• UP shall undertake and support comprehensive sports programs that promote

physical education, uphold excellence and encourage competitive participation in
sports activities, instill school identity and solidarity, cultivate pride, self-discipline
and teamwork.

Institutional and Fiscal Autonomy

• UP has the right to be treated in a manner consistent with its institutional

requirements as the national university by the service-wide agencies in the exercise
of their respective jurisdiction.

• Taking into account national goals and priorities, UP shall exclusively determine its
teaching, research and extension thrusts, plans, policies, programs and standards,
and on the basis of such determination, shall recommend its annual budget to the
President of the Republic of the Philippines and Congress.

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Lopez Group of Companies Chairman Emeritus Oscar Lopez, UP President Alfredo Pascual and Sen. Edgardo Angara sing the National Anthem at the
graduation ceremonies held on April 22, 2012 in UP Diliman, Quezon City (Jun Madrid, UP SIO).

Guiding Principles

Honor, Excellence, and Democratic Governance

• Committed to UP’s long tradition of honor and excellence, we shall be guided in

our decision-making by the principles of democratic governance: collegiality,
representation, accountability, transparency, and active participation of the
University’s constituents.

Accessibility and Responsiveness

• We will break down bureaucratic walls and make our administration accessible and
responsive to our stakeholders.

Innovativeness and Creativity

• In making decisions, we shall not be bound by traditional solutions. We shall be

prepared to pursue innovative approaches in solving the problems and issues that
confront the University.

One University

• We shall be guided by the spirit of Oneness: common standards of excellence,

harmonized systems, common and shared services across constituent universities,
but with decentralized decision-making and execution.

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 STRATEGIC PLANNING FRAMEWORK

The Path to Greatness

UP’s path can be nothing else than the path, not only to the greatness of its past,
but beyond it. This University must seize the leadership in the making of a globally
competitive Philippines. But even more urgently, it should be focused on addressing the
country’s age-old problems.

6
7
Scenes from the 2011 UP Diliman graduation rites, featuring the graduates’ jubilation and sunflowers in full bloom (UP SIO).

Our Vision for UP

A great university, taking a leadership role in the development

of a globally competitive Philippines

Driven by:

• Academic excellence and operational excellence;

• Strong research and creative capability, supported by an expanded graduate

program and geared to addressing the country’s problems;

• Excellent faculty and staff working in an environment conducive to outstanding

performance and high productivity;

• The best and brightest students from across the country prepared for successful
careers and responsive citizenship;

• Strong support from the alumni and other stakeholders;

• High visibility and effective public service;

• Modernized physical facilities and technological infrastructure for teaching, research

and administration; and

• Financial sustainability achieved by resource generation and administrative

ef�iciency, while preserving its public character.

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 One University, One UP

The vision of UP as a great university in the 21st century can only be achieved through our
uni�ied effort, and our individual and collective recognition that we are ONE UP.

Although we are a system with:

• Seven constituent universities and one autonomous college

• Fifteen campuses scattered all over the country
• Over 50,000 students (80% undergraduate and 20% graduate)
• Close to 4,000 full-time faculty (72% with graduate degrees)
• Over 1,000 part-time faculty
• Over 1,000 research and extension staff
• Over 8,000 administrative personnel
• Over 260,000 alumni scattered across the globe …

We are One UP guided by One Charter, upholding

the same tradition of honor and excellence.

Moving UP toward greatness is possible

through the uni�ied effort of its
students, faculty, researchers,
administrative staff
and alumni.

Landmarks of UP’s seven constituent units and one autonomous college located in 15 campuses nationwide.

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 As UP students, we are here to learn not just the knowledge and skills in abundance in our
classrooms, libraries and laboratories, but also the life-lessons of our communities, our
nation, and the world.

As UP faculty, we are here to teach, and do meaningful research and extension work.

As UP researcher and administrative staff, we are here to perform our duties with integrity
and sel�lessness.

As UP of�icials, we are here to further the values of democratic governance rooted in the
imperative of consultations with UP’s constituencies.

As UP alumni, we are the living embodiment of UP’s best achievements.

As the national university, UP must lead our country toward true national development and
global competitiveness while nurturing the spirit of our nationhood.

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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Through academic excellence, UP can help address the challenges that face the country and
help achieve the prosperity that has long eluded the Filipino people.

Academic excellence entails developing our students, researchers, faculty, and staff into a
pool of responsible and competent leaders who:

• Create world-class innovative and practical technologies directed toward solving

the country’s problems with food, energy, environment, industrial development,
livelihood, and employment;

• Produce creative works in the arts, humanities, and social sciences that can uplift
the spirit of our people and articulate the essence of our national culture and
identity; and

• Conduct exemplary extension services through the sharing of knowledge with the
University’s various publics.

Academic excellence eventually translates into meaningful partnerships with institutions of

higher learning, government, business and industry, international organizations, and local
communities; and contributions to the betterment of the lives of the Filipino people and
humanity in general.

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Academic excellence needs the support of an enabling environment anchored on operational

excellence. Operational excellence, in turn, is achievable only through administrative
ef�iciency and �inancial sustainability.

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 GOAL 1: Establish a �lourishing & pervasive culture of research,
innovation & creativity

Strategic Initiative: Transform UP into a Research-Intensive University

Objective: To build and grow a critical mass of research output and creative work
responsive to the needs of UP’s stakeholders

Programs & Projects:

• Formulate and implement policies and programs to increase the

percentage of graduate students relative to the total student population

• Formulate and implement policies and programs to increase the number

of PhDs in the faculty

• Enhance the International Publications Award (IPA) program

• Expand the research dissemination awards program

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 Surgeons and students participate in the first live and interactive surgical teleconference between UP Manila and Viet Duc University in Hanoi,
Vietnam on March 28, 2012 (Joseph Bautista, IPPAO UP Manila).

• Strengthen and expand interdisciplinary programs

• Strengthen the international research collaboration program

• Rationalize existing research units/programs and establish new and

stronger ones
�Cultural Infrastructure Development Program (CIDP)
�Philippine Genome Center
�Philippine Biodiversity Resources Center
�Museum of Natural History
�National Institutes of Health
�Other research units/programs

• Enhance intellectual property (IP) protection through the Tatak UP

program
�Establish/strengthen System and CU Technology Transfer
& Business Development Of�ices
�Intensify information dissemination on the UP IPR Policy
and IP Protection Guidelines
�Conduct pre-disclosure and disclosure activities
�Undertake IP protection and management

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 GOAL 2: Provide stronger, more relevant, balanced and
internationally-benchmarked academic programs

Strategic Initiative: Rationalize Admissions System and Policy

Objective: To recruit the best and the brightest students from all over the
country regardless of economic status

Programs & Projects:

• Review and rationalize UPCAT to make it more aptitude-based rather

than achievement-based

• Expand capacity for test administration to reach more applicants,

especially from the grassroots and underprivileged sectors

• Review and rationalize STFAP to make it more responsive to the

students’ needs

• Expand need-based scholarships for more students and increase

�inancial, food, housing and other assistance to promote student welfare

Strategic Initiative: Modernize Pedagogy

Objective: To encourage the development and use of multidimensional and

blended learning approaches

Programs & Projects:

•Formulate and institutionalize innovative

teaching/learning strategies

•Formulate and employ innovative

teaching evaluation tools

• Establish pedagogy as a priority research area

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Strategic Initiative: Formalize System-wide Quality Assurance

Objective: To raise UP’s international quality standing as a renowned and globally-

competitive university

Programs & Projects:

• Review internal assessment instruments in preparation for system-wide

institutional and curricular reforms

• Review CHED and leading international accreditation instruments to

facilitate UP’s compliance

• Prepare accurate data as a tool for assessment and for international

ranking

• Pursue accreditation for selected programs and centers of excellence

• Benchmark with ASEAN, US and European universities to maintain

prominence and leadership in the country and the region

• Establish and implement an integrated approach to enhancement of

academic programs that is at par with the best universities in the world

Strategic Initiative: Intensify Internationalization

Objective: To internationalize the outlook of faculty and students

Programs & Projects:

• Formulate policies that will increase the awareness and consciousness of

UP faculty and students toward internationalization

• Strengthen the Of�ice of Institutional Linkages by reorganizing it as a UP

System concern

• Develop a comprehensive databank on foreign exchanges to

promote professional and interpersonal growth

Strategic Initiative: Enhance Sports Development

Objective: To excel and be among the country’s best in various sports activities
and competitions

Programs & Projects:

• Formulate a system-wide sports development program

• Modernize sports infrastructure to serve as world-class training facilities

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UP President Alfredo Pascual reports in a press conference on December 30, 2011 the UP Padayon Disaster Response Team’s activities in calamity-struck Iligan City. A pediatrician from UP-PGH
examines a child during the medical mission in a village in Iligan City (Arlene Agulto, UP Manila).

GOAL 3: Make UP more visible through more effective public

service

Strategic Initiative: UP PADAYON: An Integrated Approach to Public

Service

Objective: To provide strategically coordinated and system-directed public

service that strengthens UP’s public service role in accordance with
RA9500

Programs & Projects:

• Create the UP Padayon Public Service Of�ice to serve as the over-all

coordinating mechanism for UP’s public service initiatives

• Generate information and evaluate public service activities across the

system

• Intensify internal (system-wide) and external (public) dissemination and

promotion

• Develop procedures at system level for channeling public services to

agencies

• Mobilize expertise in response to demands of various publics

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Strategic Initiative: PABATID UP-PABATID BAYAN: Comprehensive
Media and Communication Program

Objective: To provide outward-looking, inclusive information system that reaches out

to the nation and the world

Programs & Projects:

• Formulate a Comprehensive Communication and Media Plan to reach

out and inform the public about UP’s programs and activities

• Improve relations with media and the public through periodic

discussions

• Strengthen the System Information Of�ice through capacity building

• Strengthen System-CU information of�ice linkages

• Strengthen information management capability of all CUs

17
UP President Alfredo Pascual speaks at the UP System workshop on administration, human resources and budget concerns on May 17, 2011 (Abraham Arboleda, UP SIO).

GOAL 4: Implement and maintain seamless processes for higher

levels of productivity and sound decision-making based
on accurate and real-time information

Strategic Initiative:

Objective: To integrate, interconnect, and harmonize ICT systems and

infrastructure within and across all campuses

Programs & Projects:

• Formulate policies, set up appropriate organization structure, and

mobilize eUP teams system-wide

• Benchmark with selected top universities around the world, conduct ICT
and IT systems audit, identify best practices, and standardize systems

• Acquire, develop and install appropriate information systems for UP

constituents’ various needs

• Develop, acquire and install needed ICT infrastructure, such as

hardware, communications systems and interconnection upgrades

• Conduct ICT competency building courses and trainings for UP

constituents and partners
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 Strategic Initiative:

Objective: To make UP campuses environment-friendly

Programs & Projects:

• Perform energy audit to promote ef�iciency and reduce costs

• Prepare building design standards that are resource-ef�icient and

environmentally-responsible

• Retro�it buildings to reduce utilities consumption, preserve heritage and

conserve materials through adaptive reuse

• Improve landscaping and street lighting through low-maintenance,

sustainable and eco-friendly modi�ications

• Improve utilities and waste management by optimizing the conservation

of resources, end-product segregation, recycling, composting and
implementing sustainable systems

• Improve transport systems and services to minimize pollution

Launch of the e-UP Project at the UP Open University Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna on May 10, 2012 (Sarah Joy Salvio, UP-ITDC). Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement
between UP and Philips Electronic and Lighting Inc. in November 2011 at the Board Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman (Jun Madrid, UP SIO). Top photo: UP Los Baños Professor of Soil
Sciences, Dr. Eduardo Paningbatan, Jr., demonstrates how to grow vegetables and herbs during an event hosted by the UP Chapter of the Philippine Association of University Women
(UP-PAUW) on June 15, 2011 (Abraham Arboleda, UP SIO).

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The first International Conference on Open and Distance e-Learning (ICODEL), co-organized by the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), the Philippine Society for Distance
Learning (PSDL), and the UPOU Foundation, Inc., on February 23, 2012 at the Century Park Hotel, Manila (El Bacani, UP SIO).

Strategic Initiative:

Objective: To streamline University processes for faster delivery of services

Programs & Projects:

• Review, rationalize and improve procurement systems and procedures

• Review, rationalize and improve HR systems and procedures

Strategic Initiative: Enhance Personnel Bene�its

Objective: To attract, recruit and retain the best faculty, administrative staff,
and REPS

Programs & Projects:

• Develop and implement a sustainable Housing Program

• Implement a UP System Health Care and Maintenance Program (HCMP)

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 Strategic Initiative: Enhance the Budget Process

Objective: To use the budget as a planning tool system-wide

Programs & Projects:

• Review and enhance the annual budget process to provide annual

budgets that are based on the 2011-2017 budget requirement of
the 2011-2017 strategic plan

• Prepare budget templates and �inancial planning calendar for

compliance by System Of�ices and CUs to support timely submissions
of annual budgets

• Promote compliance with the Magna Carta for Women through

institutional mechanisms such as the conduct of a gender audit
and the integration of gender issues and concerns in the annual plans
of all departments

Top photo: UP President Alfredo Pascual and Vice-President for Public Affairs J. Prospero De Vera III give Senator Pia Cayetano an update on the UP System administration’s plans
(UP SIO). Bottom photo: UP Center for Women’s Studies director Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio discusses sexual and reproductive health and rights in a forum held at the UP College of
Social Work and Community Development in UP Diliman (El Bacani, UP SIO).

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 GOAL 5: Ensure reliable and continuous in�low of �inancial
resources

Strategic Initiative: Continue the Campaign for Increased Budget

Appropriation for UP

Objective: To secure government’s long-term funding commitment to UP

Programs & Projects:

• Intensify communication with the Department of Budget and

Management (DBM) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

• Strengthen linkages with the Senate and the House of Representatives

• Prepare meaningful reports and presentations for better appreciation

of government agencies who decide on or in�luence the UP budget
appropriation

UP President Alfredo Pascual shares his administration’s plans for UP with Senators Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan and Franklin Drilon during their August 15, 2011 meeting in the Senate complex.
A dinner for UP alumni in the House of Representatives is held at the Executive House, UP Diliman, Quezon City on January 24, 2012 (Jun Madrid, UP SIO).

22
Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between UP and the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation in November 2011 at the Board Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman (El Bacani, UP SIO).
Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between UP and the Philippine National Oil Company Exploration Corporation (PNOC EC) on November 11, 2011 at the PNOC EC office, Fort
Bonifacio, Taguig City (Abraham Arboleda, UP SIO).

Strategic Initiative: Intensify Fund-Raising Campaign from UP Alumni

and Friends

Objective: To ensure sustained support from UP alumni and friends

Programs & Projects:

• Launch PABALIK-BALIK UP Alumni ng Bayan to encourage alumni to

share their research and expertise with UP

• Implement a comprehensive campaign for donations from alumni and

friends of UP through online payment systems

• Work with alumni and friends in tapping big donors within their spheres
of in�luence

Strategic Initiative: Formulate a System-wide Master Development Plan:

Campuses and Land Grants

Objective: To proactively and systematically develop UP’s land assets

Programs & Projects:

• Establish a framework for UP’s physical growth over the next 15 years

• Translate the spatial strategy into future land use patterns that will guide
land allocation and development

• Formulate master plans for all UP properties that can be developed

• Formulate appropriate building design and landscape policies and

guidelines

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Clockwise: Aerial photo of the UP Diliman campus; Laying of the time capsule at the South Road Properties (SRP), UP Cebu College, Cebu City on September 23, 2011 (Hector Paolo Diango
/ Meryl Roa); Cover of the revised IPR Policy handbook of UP; and Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and UP on
February 16, 2012 at the Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City (Bong Arboleda, UP SIO).

Strategic Initiative: Secure Titles of All Land Assets

Objective: To obtain of�icial documents con�irming UP’s

ownership of all its properties

Programs & Projects:

• Review the inventory of UP properties

• Coordinate with other government of�ices

Strategic Initiative: Accelerate Intellectual Property

Commercialization through the
Tatak UP Program

Objective: To create a culture of entrepreneurship systemwide

Programs & Projects:

• Explore commercialization options for UP’s intellectual properties

• Launch UP consultancy services

�Conduct a system-wide IP and
expertise audit
�Create and maintain an up-to-date
expertise database

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Photos show the UP-Ayala Land TechnoHub along Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, and scale models of proposed buildings for the UP Integrated School (UPIS) High
School and University Town presented on August 6, 2011 at the Executive House, UP Diliman (Jun Madrid, UP SIO).

Strategic Initiative: Harness the Provisions of the 2008 UP Charter

Objective: To create an enabling legal environment that facilitates the

implementation of strategic initiatives and action plans, speci�ically
those aimed at resource generation

Programs & Projects:

• Review the legislative intent of the UP Charter in close coordination with

other government agencies

• Determine appropriate business vehicles and approaches for UP

• Strengthen the OVPLA and other legal of�ices across the UP system

Strategic Initiative: Enhance Fund Management

Objective: To ensure optimal investment of funds

Programs & Projects:

• Employ the portfolio approach to fund management for higher returns

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 Making UP a Great University
Investiture Speech of Alfredo E. Pascual
20th President of the University of the Philippines

UP President Alfredo Pascual delivers

his speech during his Investiture Rites
on September 15, 2011, at the University
Theater, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

I sang mapagpala’t mapagpalayang

araw sa inyong lahat!
world universities have jolted us into
realizing that UP’s preeminent position
as an institution of higher learning has
About a year ago, I accepted my faded.”
nomination to the UP Presidency in my
desire to lead in the remaking of UP not When I assumed of�ice seven months
only as a great Philippine university, but ago, I declared that UP’s path can be
as a great Asian and global institution as nothing else than the path, not only to
well. the greatness of its past, but beyond it.
This university must seize the leadership
I said then that “many of us in the making of a globally competitive
remember UP as a great university, the Philippines. But even more urgently, it
best in the country, and a respected should be focused on addressing those
center of learning in Asia. Over the problems of the country that for decades
years, however, comparative surveys of have resisted solution.
26
 Today, I join all of you as we • As UP students, we are here to
collectively embark on a journey towards learn not just the knowledge
making the University of the Philippines and skills in abundance in
a Great University in the 21st century. I do our classrooms, libraries and
not profess to make UP great overnight, laboratories, but also the life-
but I shall mark the path and launch UP lessons of our communities, our
towards greatness during my term. nation, and the world.

The magnitude of the task facing • As UP faculty, we are here to teach,

us is daunting, but I am encouraged by and do meaningful research and
your show of support this afternoon, and extension work.
draw strength from the prayers being • As UP staff and REPS, we are
offered by so many of you. here to perform our duties with
integrity and sel�lessness.
One UP
• As UP of�icials, we are here to
The remaking of UP as a great further the values democratic
university can only be achieved through governance rooted in the
our uni�ied effort, and our individual and imperative of consultations with
collective recognition that we are One UP’s constituencies.
UP.
• And as UP alumni, we are the
We may have seven constituent living embodiments of UP’s best
universities and an autonomous college achievements.
dispersed all over the country, but we
are One UP. We are One UP even if we As the national university, UP must
have more than 5,000 faculty members; lead our country toward true national
50,000 undergraduate and graduate development and global competitiveness
students; and 10,000 administrative staff while nurturing the spirit of our
and research, extension and professional nationhood. My administration is fully
staff in 15 campuses; plus over 260,000 committed to this vision. And I ask all of
alumni scattered across the globe. you to join me so we may realize it.

We are One UP guided by one To achieve this vision, we will

Charter, upholding the same tradition pursue two strategic thrusts – academic
of honor and excellence in the service of excellence and operational excellence.
the people.
Academic excellence

Through academic excellence, UP

can address the problems that beset the
country and help achieve the prosperity
that has long eluded our people.

Academic excellence entails develop-

ing our students, researchers, faculty,

27
 and staff members into a pool of respon- and the best performing schools in the
sible and competent leaders: various board exams. We produce more
• who create world-class innova- international and refereed publications
tive and practical technologies than all other Philippine universities
that can address the problems combined.
of the country with food, energy,
environment, industrial devel- But we can still do more.
opment, livelihood and employ-
ment; As a public university, UP must be
a university where students earn their
• who produce creative works that degrees as Iskolar ng Bayan regardless
can uplift the spirit of our people of the economic status of their family.
and articulate the essence of our This can be achieved with a strong
national culture and identity; commitment to review the UP College
and Admission Test (UPCAT), restructure
the Socialized Tuition and Financial
• who conduct exemplary extension Assistance Program (STFAP), improve
services that can transform our our scholarship programs, and do all
communities. that is necessary to maintain the public
character of our institution.
Our track record in academic
excellence is unquestioned. Thirty-four Our curricula are at the core of UP
of the country’s 57 National Artists are education. We must improve general
either UP alumni or faculty members. education (GE) so students can acquire
Thirty-six of the 37 National Scientists are an even broader foundation in the
from UP. Our alumni lead the prestigious sciences and the humanities. We need
higher education institutions in our land. to train our students in higher-order
We have gotten recognition from the thinking, and to ingrain in them the
Commission on Higher Education for 20 value of life-long learning as leaders in
Centers of Excellence and six Centers of their �ields, and, even more critically, in
Development that mentor other colleges working for the public good.
and universities.
Our GE program must instill the
Our graduates and constituent uni- urgent lessons in ethics and civics,
versities have been the topnotchers public-mindedness, national pride and
global orientation. We must prepare our
students for the workplace so they may
remain competitive and successful many
years after graduation. But we must
also expose our students to the basic
tenets of entrepreneurship which is
needed to spawn wealth creation in the
country through business enterprise.
As the national research university, we
will encourage more graduates to take
the path of innovation as the life-long

28
researchers and creative minds critical for the most outstanding mentors of our
to our nation’s progress. university.

We will need exemplary research Much of our accomplishments,

mentors to guide our graduate students champions and experts are not recog-
through research and publication. We nized even among ourselves, the general
may get the best and brightest students public, and the world. For example, how
into UP, but we must complement them many of us know that more than half a
with the best faculty who have the track million needy Filipinos are served yearly
record in research and/or creativity. We by the UP Philippine General Hospital?
will continue to support the development
of our young faculty by �inancing their To help further realize our respon-
advanced studies. sibilities as a public service university,
we are creating the Padayon UP! Of�ice
We must provide more funds for (“Padayon” meaning “Onward”) to coor-
international conferences to expose dinate our public service activities, pack-
more of our faculty to international age our programs and breakthroughs,
research and academic standards. We and disseminate these to our students,
will reward exemplary teachers and our faculty and staff, our policy makers,
researchers who publish proli�ically, who our alumni, and to the Filipino people.
develop excellent educational materials,
and who effectively use these materials We know that UP can no longer
in our classes. And we will reserve the ignore internationalization. We need
recognition as a professor emeritus only to �ind our niche in the world and must

29
 improve our international ranking among Operational excellence
the world’s universities. We need to
embrace accreditation and international Academic excellence needs the sup-
benchmarking. We must undertake our port of an enabling environment an-
own internal academic assessment, and chored on operational excellence. Oper-
subject our programs to external review ational excellence, in turn, is achievable
by recognized national and international only through administrative ef�iciency
assessment agencies. and �inancial sustainability.

UP Manila has shown us the way. There are various ways to attain
For instance, the College of Medicine, ef�iciency, but the quickest approach is
whose standards have been af�irmed by to put in place an integrated information
accreditation, achieves a 100 percent and communication system that will tie
passing rate in the medical board exams, our units together into one UP.
and its graduates’ perennially placing
among board topnotchers. Decision-making at the system and
all other levels of administration in UP
We will pursue the university’s must be based on accurate and real-time
internationalization by promoting information. We will soon launch e-UP,
student exchanges, foreign academic a system-wide computerization project
credit transfer arrangements, distance that will interconnect and harmonize
and e-learning, foreign collaborations in ICT systems and infrastructure across
graduate theses, and faculty fellowships all UP campuses. The e-UP project
in foreign institutions. will improve information sharing
and accessibility, improve decision
As a counterbalance, we will support making, simplify and harmonize
a national culture, history and arts operations, speed up service delivery,
program. This will promote a vibrant reduce operational costs, and promote
creative work and performing arts scene personnel well-being. With increased
in our campuses. But more than that, transparency and managerial control
the program will serve to enhance the brought about by e-UP, we will be able
Filipino self-knowledge based on a deep to empower lower level administrative
understanding of Philippine culture, of�icials through decentralization.
heritage, history, archeology, and arts.

30
 The implementation of e-UP will be
completed within three years, and we
need your support and involvement to
ensure its success. System-wide ICT
policies and standards will be formulated
and ICT knowledge base updated through
massive competency building among our
students, faculty and staff.

We will also launch “Green UP”

to make our campuses environment- require large amounts of funds to
friendly while saving on the cost of implement and sustain. As a land grant
utilities, such as electricity and water. university, UP has the responsibility
The Green UP project also includes to utilize and manage its land assets
the formulation of guidelines on in an optimal manner. It is imperative
building designs and landscapes for that we have full appreciation of all
implementation in all campuses. our properties. To achieve this, we
will begin the crafting of a Master
Effective human resources manage- Development Plan covering all campus
ment will also contribute to our admin- sites, landholdings, and land grants.
istrative ef�iciency. This will require This master development plan will be
matching skills with the tasks required, the basis of capital improvements in
ensuring that working hours are within the campuses, and the proactive and
reasonable times, compensating work orderly development of our land assets
beyond the call of duty, rewarding excel- for revenue generation.
lent performance, providing a suitable
work environment, and granting equi- Another asset of UP is its intellectual
table employee bene�its. property. We have recently obtained
approval from our Board of Regents
We are determined to be a leader for the Revised UP Intellectual
in implementing a just and equitable Property Rights Policy. This will guide
employment relations system in the and facilitate technology transfer.
Philippines. We have started discussions Dissemination of the research outputs
with prospective partners for addressing and innovative technologies generated
the housing and health care needs by our faculty, researchers, and students
of our faculty and staff. With strong must be accelerated, if we are to ful�ill
political will, we intend to establish our mandate as a research and public
a transparent and effective system of service university, while generating
resolving grievances at the workplace revenues from IP commercialization.
and to implement UP’s social contracts,
including the collective negotiation We have put in place a seamless
agreements with the organized faculty partnership between UP and the UP
and staff. Alumni Association, and we will harness
our alumni to assist their alma mater
Our strategic initiatives, along with not just through their donations but by
the regular operations of the university, putting their expertise and networks in

31
 the service of the university. With the we lose a faculty member or researcher
support of our alumni, we plan to launch to other universities or the private sector
a comprehensive fundraising campaign because we cannot pay enough.
that will augment our endowment
funds. The new UP charter provides for And I am frustrated every time I have
150% tax deductibility of donations to to plead to the government for more
UP. In an era of strict tax enforcement budget support for UP, the National
in the country, this incentive can serve University that Congress has given so
as a material inducement to prospective much responsibility.
donors.
But I become convinced that UP can
The challenges to UP be an even greater university whenever
our colleges achieve a 100% passing rate
Our pursuit of academic and in licensure exams and our graduates top
operational excellence is rooted in these exams. I am even more heartened
UP’s historic commitment to serve the each time our faculty members produce
people. Republic Act No. 9500 (our breakthrough research and masterpieces
Charter of 2008) declares UP as the in the various disciplines despite the
National University, a distinction laden odds.
with great responsibilities.
I am more encouraged to pursue the
UP is mandated to perform its unique path to greatness when we produce a
and distinctive leadership in higher summa cum laude like John Pelias who
education and national development. has decided to serve the university as a
UP is expected to serve as a research faculty member, or a Shamcey Supsup
university, as a graduate university, as who has proven that brains, beauty and
a public service university, and most the desire to teach in UP can reside in
importantly, as a regional and global one person.
university.
I am more emboldened when
UP is indeed designed to be the political leaders led by our senators and
great university we want and the great representatives, some of whom are here
university the country needs. with us today, mobilize resources for our
new projects. They are among those who
But I am appalled every time a poor believe that UP is a good investment.
student who has been admitted to UP
is unable to enroll because of �inancial And I am inspired more than ever,
inadequacy. I am saddened each time when I meet alumni during my travels

32
who are eager to support their alma teachers. It has also allowed us to learn
mater. Some of them have traveled far to despite the limited facilities and the
attend this investiture today and join us antiquated equipment from previous
in restoring UP’s greatness. generations. It is the combination of
these teachings, this environment, and
A call to action the UP student’s ingenuity, which sets
the UP graduate apart from those of
Because UP has been at the forefront other institutions.
not only of the country’s educational
system, but also of its social, political, But while we have managed to
and economic life, it is incumbent upon achieve excellence despite these
all of us to ensure that the youth who limitations, we must continue to demand
go through the halls of our university for increases in state subsidy for UP,
are imbued with the tradition and spirit increases in the pay of our faculty and
which have made UP the vanguard of the staff, and the upgrading of our facilities
people. deserving of a national university.
Government �inancial support for UP is
The university is like a seedbed not an expense, but an investment that
where students are nourished so that will yield copious dividends for our
they may bloom and �lourish not only country and people.
in academic excellence but also in moral
character. As Dr. Jose Rizal said to the On this day we gather to declare
women of Malolos: “Awaken and prepare that we shall not waver in our efforts to
the mind of the child for every good and restore UP to its preeminent status in the
desirable idea – love for honor, sincere world of higher education and to ensure
and �irm character, clear mind, clean that the education it offers is accessible
conduct, noble action, love for one’s to the least of our people.
fellow men, respect for God…No sweet
fruit can be picked from a sour seed.” We must succeed not because we
have a reputation to keep but because
The university, according to UP’s we have a country to serve. And we will
�irst president, Murray Bartlett, “is not succeed, because we have the students,
meant to breed aristocrats but unsel�ish faculty, staff, and alumni who will help
workers for the common good.” UP us realize the goals to which I pledge my
must also teach all those who go through administration.
its corridors that “the honor due any
profession is to be judged alone by the Mabuhay ang Unibersidad ng
measure of its service to the people.” Pilipinas! Mabuhay tayong lahat!

Such are the demands on us as the

national university.

UP education has endowed us with

the priceless teachings and examples
of the country’s �inest artists, its most
brilliant scientists, and its most dedicated

33
 University of the Philippines
Board of Regents

Hon. Patricia B. Licuanan, Chairperson Hon. Alfredo E. Pascual, Co-Chairperson

Chairman, Commission on Higher Education President, University of the Philippines

Hon. Edgardo J. Angara Hon. Juan Edgardo M. Angara

Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Arts, and Culture Chairman, House Committee on Higher Education

Hon. Gladys S.J. Tiongco, Alumni Regent Hon. Reynato S. Puno

President, UP Alumni Association
Hon. Evelina Buencamino Guevara-Escudero
Hon. Ida F. Dalmacio, Faculty Regent
Hon. Elizabeth Rose C. Orteza Siguion-Reyna
Hon. Maria Kristina C. Conti, Student Regent (2011-2012) (2010-2012)

Hon. Cleve V. Arguelles, Student Regent (2012-2013) Hon. Magdaleno B. Albarracin, Jr.
(2010-2011; 2012-2014)
Hon. Jossel I. Ebesate, Staff Regent

UP System Officials

Hon. Alfredo E. Pascual

President

Prof. Gisela P. Concepcion, PhD Prof. J. Prospero E. De Vera III, DPA

Vice-President for Academic Affairs Vice-President for Public Affairs

Prof. Lisa Grace S. Bersales, PhD Atty. Hector Danny D. Uy, LLB
Vice-President for Planning and Finance Vice-President for Legal Affairs

Prof. Maragtas S.V. Amante, PhD Prof. Lilian A. de las Llagas, MSc, PhD, LLB
Vice-President for Administration Secretary of the University
and the Board of Regents
Prof. Elvira A. Zamora, DBA
Vice-President for Development Prof. Virginia E. Ramos Ocampo
Assistant Secretary of the University
Prof. Antoinette B. Hernandez, PhD and the Board of Regents
Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Director, Of�ice of Institutional Linkages Prof. Jose Wendell P. Capili, PhD
Assistant Vice-President for Public Affairs
Prof. Marilou G. Nicolas, PhD Director, Of�ice of Alumni Relations
Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Executive Director, University Center for Integrative Prof. Danilo A. Arao
Development Studies Assistant Vice-President for Public Affairs
Director, System Information Of�ice
Prof. Noreen P. Escultura
OIC, Assistant Vice-President for Planning and Finance Prof. Jose Neil C. Garcia, PhD
Director, UP System Budget Of�ice Director, UP Press

Prof. Nestor O. Rañeses Prof. Sylvia E. Claudio, PhD

Assistant Vice-President for Administration Director, University Center for Women’s Studies

Prof. Jaime D.L. Caro, PhD

Assistant Vice-President for Development

Prepared by the UP Of�ice of the President

Published in September 2012 by the UP System Information Of�ice (UP SIO)
Mezzanine, North Wing
Quezon Hall, UP Diliman
1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Email: upsio@up.edu.ph