AT LEAST 260 extension program stakeholders gathered Tuesday, November 29, for the 2nd National Extension Conference in a bid to firm up the effort of Commission on Higher Education through the Office of Planning, Research and Knowledge Management (Ched-OPRKM) to strengthen extension programs in higher education institutions (HEIs).
The two-day conference held at the Grand Regal Hotel, which ends Wednesday, is in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Davao.
It aims to recognize the significant contribution of academe-industry partnership in “shaping, enhancement and innovation of community engagement by HEIs.”
It is attended by various extension directors, teachers, and extension workers from HEIs nationwide.
“We have this because we want to give importance to the role of extension education in higher education institutions (HEIs),” Ched-OPRKM Napoleon Juanillo Jr. said Tuesday during press conference.
He cited that extension basically means that HEIs are working with various community partners beyond the school's provision to come up with comprehensive extension programs that are beneficial for both party.
They could be partners in developing new ideas by sharing each other’s knowledge and practices.
In a statement, Ched had rolled out its new policies on extension for HEIs during the event and shared the stakeholders have shared best practices on community and industry engagement.
“Extension cannot be anymore separate from research,” the chief said, thus they are boosting its support to tap extension programs of schools to bring teachers and scientist closer to the community.
“We are looking at possible best practices and ways to make sure that it really happens in college campuses,” Juanillo said, adding that their efforts now is focused on the advancement of the extension aspect.
Meanwhile, in the new Ched extension framework, it aims to mobilize the teachers and extension workers to go in the grassroots level in order to have a clearer picture of the existing problems of the community that needs to be resolved.
Juanillo said the academe will propose solutions in collaboration with the community.
He added that it envisioned being purpose-specific utilizing the best available data, science and evidences from a range of disciplines to help society.