Iloilo City, November 13, 2024—”ISUFST’s micro-credential proposals are among the first, cleanest, and finest I’ve seen… and I urge the management to launch these at the soonest possible time,” remarked Dr. Greg Pawilen, curriculum expert from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, at a workshop organized by the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST). Held at the Park Inn by Radisson in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, the two-day event has gathered select ISUFST leaders and faculty to explore and develop micro-credential programs designed to bridge academic learning and industry needs.
In a gesture highlighting collaboration, Dr. Pawilen offered participants certificates co-signed by the UPLB, jokingly calling the wittingly itself a “micro-credential of a micro-credential.” He emphasized that in the evolving educational landscape, “Competition is becoming less relevant. Major players are those who respond to needs through curricular innovations like micro-credentialing, allowing ISUFST to meet its clients’ needs with precision and impact.”
Day one of the workshop introduced participants to the essentials of micro-credentialing—compact, competency-based courses focused on industry-aligned skills. Dr. Pawilen underscored that these courses must be flexible, outcomes-based, and inclusive, stressing that “Tomorrow’s curriculum must be transformative, adaptable, and serve practical needs beyond traditional exams and classroom settings.”
The program continued with hands-on sessions where participants crafted and presented micro-credential proposals from six colleges, including Education, Information Technology, Management, Agriculture, and Fisheries. The courses prepared and presented cover psychological first aid, practical computer literacy, programing in robotics, web-based portfolio design, navigation safety, maritime leadership, AI-driven content creation, basic food safety, advising in mathematical investigation, and integrated farming, among others.
Reflecting on the day’s progress, ISUFST Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Joan Belga said, “Our goal is to stay ahead in educational innovation. Through these micro-credentials, we’re enabling students to gain skills they can immediately apply, making them invaluable contributors to the community.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Michelle Bales, ISUFST’s Director of Instruction, announced that the university will try to propose formalizing policies around micro-credentialing, with the hope to introduce these offerings in the upcoming academic year. (Photos by Catherine Tagnawa and Herman Lagon/Text by Lagon/PAMMCO)
