IFSU revs up to become future-ready university


Ifugao State University (IFSU) is gearing up to become a future-ready university by equipping its leaders with the knowledge and skills on future-proofing.

The university’s Administrative Council (ADCO) members are attending a three-day seminar-workshop on “Future Proofing Leaders and LEADS through Phronetic Leadership and Gender-Responsive Governance” at Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija from May 3 to 5, 2023.

The capacity-building training aims to help IFSU leaders develop a strategic foresight capability, which is the ability to see the future and make decisions accordingly.

Dr. Nancy Ann P. Gonzales, IFSU professor and activity proposal proponent, said that it is important for IFSU leaders to be well-informed of foresight and futures thinking. “This will help them prepare the university for the challenges and opportunities of the future,” she said.

CLSU University President Dr. Edgar A. Orden who graced the event thanked IFSU for choosing CLSU as the venue of the seminar-workshop. He said that CLSU is committed to sharing its knowledge and expertise in foresight and futures thinking with other institutions.

“We are very willing to share. We were challenged by many obstacles during the pandemic. The good thing is that we have survived the pandemic. We always rise up to the challenge. More than anything else, after surviving the pandemic, there is a need to serve. We are all public servants, meaning we are here to serve our clientele. We should be responsible and accountable public officials,” added Dr. Orden.

Dr. Reginald D. Ugaddan, Assistant Professor at the National College of Public Administration and Governance of the University of the Philippines, discussed Future Proofing Leaders /Futures Thinking and Foresight. He said that futures thinking is about understanding the trends and forces that are shaping the future and developing strategies to adapt to those trends and forces.

The theories of Futures Thinking, which is forward-looking, and Phronetic, which is context-sensitive, resulting in consultative and communicative leadership, as well as ethics-focused leadership, find their link and application in strategic foresight.

Environment and horizontal scanning, trends and emerging concerns mapping, key factor forecast table, and scenario narratives (business-as-usual, disowned, disintegrated, and preferred) enabled IFSU officials to map out scenarios.

The participants also toured the Kamalig (Keeping a Modern Agricultural Landscape through Integrating CLSU Generated Technologies) model farm to see innovations inspired by futures thinking and phronesis that match key indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr. Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon, IFSU University President, was represented by Dr. Marissa P. Bulong, Vice President for Research Development, Extension, and Training, who encouraged members of the ADCO, the policy-making body of the institution, to approach the seminar with an open mind and collaborate to make the most of it.

Notably, Dr. Dugyon has been a staunch advocate for the espousal of phronesis since the beginning of her tenure.

The ADCO is composed of the University President, Vice Presidents, Directors, Deans and other officials.

Photocredit: Fritzie Mae Fukasan, Kimverly Diwas