CLSU prof receives SEARCA full grant for leadership program

A CENTRAL Luzon State University (CLSU) professor received a full grant from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and The Head Foundation (THF) for the 2024 Leadership Development Program for Higher Education Institutions (LDP-HEI) program.

Associate Professor Maria Adrielle Estigoy of the CLSU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Presidential Management Services director, was one of 10 selected grantees of a full grant from SEARCA and THF.

From 11 Southeast Asian countries, 28 individuals participated in the program, which was composed of HEI presidents, vice presidents, deans, directors and heads. The program runs from March to July 2024 in a blended learning mode.

Estigoy and the other participants crafted their re-entry action plan (REAP), which they can implement in their institutions.

According to the CLSU Strategic Communication Office (SCO), Estigoy's REAP presentation was anchored on the possible institutionalization of a policy on using artificial intelligence or AI tools in teaching and learning.

The participants' presentations were critiqued by a panel of faculty lecturers from THF, which took place from May 6 to 10, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand, to ensure that the action plans of participants were on track.

The CLSU SCO said the participants visited Betagro, a company renowned for its innovative practices, and prestigious state-owned universities such as Chulalongkorn University and Kasetsart University (KU) as part of the LDP-HEI program.

SCO said these visits were designe to provide real-life best practices and innovations presented by Betagro chief executive officer and KU president, enriching the participants' understanding and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

SEARCA Center Glenn Gregorio said the LDP-HEI is now in its sixth series "to empower leaders of HEIs in Southeast Asia by equipping them with the essential skills and knowledge required to lead their universities effectively, ensuring they thrive and remain resilient in the dynamic landscape of the region."