Academic heads design Outcomes-Based Education framework


To respond to the need for standardization of education systems and processes, deans and chairpersons of Ifugao State University (IFSU) led by University President Dr. Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon convened to craft a framework of Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) and to reconfigure course requirements aligned with OBE principles at the Review Center, IFSU - Lamut Campus on Aug. 24-25, 2022.

In her Welcome Message, Dr. Mary P. Caclini, Vice President for Academic Affairs, said the workshop is crucial in guaranteeing the University curriculum; teaching and learning strategies; and assessment tools are continuously enhanced to be relevant to students' needs and graduate placement destinations.

She also added that this is the University’s response to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 46, s. 2012, known as "Policy Standard to enhance quality assurance in Philippine Higher Education through an Outcomes-Based and Typology Bases QA.”

Education experts define OBE as an educational theory that bases each part of an educational system around what is essential for all students to be able to do successfully at the end of their learning experiences.

University President Dr. Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon expressed delight in the pour of support from the deans and chairpersons of the colleges from all the campuses of the University.

“First things first. We have to respond to the pressing concerns and emerging trends in the academic community. One of these is designing the University framework or blueprint from which we can base all our academic efforts,” Dr. Dugyon said. “We are investing so much on quality assurance to deliver the best services to our constituents and to be at par with other State Universities and Colleges.”

Dr. Felina P. Espique, Dean of the Department of School of Teacher Education & Liberal Arts from Saint Louis University in Baguio City, who served as the lead trainer, remarked that OBE’s successful implementation in the school setting requires faculty members to coordinate, communicate, and collaborate.

“You may work in small groups, but you should think and look at the context of IFSU. You should not teach what you only know, or what your favorite authors say, you teach what your students need – the educational aims and values, and these should be reflected in your OBE framework,” pointed out Dr. Espique.

Dr. Stephanie Lee Ong Busbus, Department Head for Professional Education & now the current graduate program coordinator for the Teacher Education program; and Dr. Geraldine S. Wakat, a Higher Education Institution Specialist in Curriculum Audit from the same university also served as trainers.