Synchronization of academic calendar with other countries can contribute to globalization of Higher Education parallel with other Association of Southeast-Asian Nation (ASEAN) by 2015 said University of the Philippines President Alfredo Pascual in a forum entitled “Higher Education Competitiveness in an ASEAN Integrated Era” in Mandaluyong City on November 19, 2013.
Delegates from Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Legislative Department and Higher education faculties and presidents were present from the said forum. The said forum was organized by Publicus Asia Inc. together with UP Diliman.
Academic research in the country will improve if there is student and staff mobility through alignment of school calendars among other ASEAN countries, Pascual added.
“We have to produce new knowledge that can contribute to internationalization through journals made by teachers of higher education.” Ateneo President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin said. He added that there is a need to align academic calendars to open collaborations with other ASEAN countries and to produce more research papers important in higher education quality.
ASEAN countries includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
“The Philippines is the only ASEAn country with June as the start of classes. Other countries would start their academic calendar from September.” UP Vice President for Public Affairs Prospero De Vera said.
QS Asian University rankings listed UP in rank 67 making it one of the lowest among the top 100 in Asia.
“Research Quality and Internationalization through Synchronization of Academic Calendars is a solution for low ranking problems of Higher Education in the Philippines.” Pascual explained.
Other Higher education delegates agreed with the proposed new calendar.
“The Philippines is mostly an agricultural country where planting season starts from June to August. The new calendar will enable farmer’s children to help their parents during planting season.” , Sister Minda Posadas of St. Joseph’s College of Quezon City said. She also said that it will lessen absences acquired from students who were obliged to help their parents during planting seasons.
New calendars for higher education would also encourage cross registrants from other countries to enroll in the Philippines said UP Master of Public Administration student Karen Gonzaga. She also recommends or Basic Education to also be in sync with other countries to strengthen foundations for higher education.
Mutual accomodation of students across the globe will give the Philippines a leap for higher education competitiveness through the new calendar said President Corazon Alava of Camiguin Polythechnic Colleges.
“The Philippines has too many typhoons during June to August which will be solved if the classes will start by September.” Alava added.
New calendars would also make an organize system and curriculum among tertiary level said Isabela State University VP for Academic Related Affairs Edmundo Gumpac.
Mutual recognition of Academic Programs among all ASEAnNcountries will offer professional interactions in research clusters and coordiantion with ASEAN education ministers, Pascual said.
Pascual and Villarin Synchronization of calendars will be a challenge because of the delay of implemantation with K to 12 program at present. But UP will gradually implement the new academic calendars by 2014.
CHED representative Dr. Catherine Castaneda said that reforms for ASEAN integration on Education is moving faster but not fast enough to reach ASEAN 2015 Integration.
Pasig Representative Roman Romulo said that there is no law on changing the academic calendar at present but UP and Ateneo are trying it out and surveying from their communities. Castaneda added that it is up to the university if they would like to try the new calendar provided that they will consult CHED and they are an autonomous school.
Pascual together with the UP community hopes for the government to support other state universities to compete with UP in the QS Asian University rankings like what other ASEAN countries are doing with their respective universities.
“The world is becoming globalized. We need to bond together as ASEAN so that we can be competitive globally to cope up with the international trend”, Pascual said.
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