The 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐈𝐅𝐋𝐃𝐄) conducted the first phase of the series of benchmarking activities under the project, “𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐏𝐫𝐨: 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬” at Pangasinan State University (PSU), Don Mariano Marcos Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), and Central Luzon State University (CLSU) via Google Meet and Zoom from June 18 to 20, 2024.

 

𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐏𝐫𝐨: 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 pursues to address a variety of educational demands by conducting a comprehensive analysis of institutions that have successfully implemented the Expanded Tertiary Education, Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) as well as Distance Learning (DL) programs. By learning from the experiences of these institutions, IFLDE can develop a robust framework for designing and delivering courses that cater to the evolving needs of modern learners.

 

The first benchmarking in the series focused on the best practices of the 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 on the offering of the ETEEAP as the institute aims to design and implement RTU’s very own ETEEAP. 𝑫𝒓. 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆 𝑪. 𝑫𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒚, Director of the PSU-ETEEAP, discussed the fees, policies, admission, assessment tools, and requisites under the program. 𝑫𝒓. 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒑 𝑮. 𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒂, Executive Director of the PSU’s Open University System (OUS), also showcased the best practices of the OUS explaining the program offerings, Learning Management System (LMS), digital tools, open resources, and modalities that the institution utilizes.

 

Meanwhile, the discussion in the virtual benchmarking activity at 𝑫𝒐𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 also revolved around pertinent processes on accreditation and deputization of baccalaureate, graduate, and certificate programs under Distance Education. 𝑫𝒓. 𝑩𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒐 𝑫. 𝑳𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒅, Executive Director for DMMMSU Open University System, suggested to forge partnerships not only with universities which offer DL programs and OUS but also with Local Government Units (LGUs) and other local departments to assess and address the needs of stakeholders around the institution.

 

An online benchmarking with 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑳𝒖𝒛𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 culminates the first phase of FlexiLearnPro. 𝑫𝒓. 𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒋𝒖𝒏 𝑱. 𝑫𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂, Program Head of the CLSU-ETEEAP, directly answered the institute’s queries on assessment of applicants, requirements to complete the courses, criteria used, and the hybrid setup for the program. Dr. Dilla explained that it is necessary to conduct a Needs Assessment first as well as a survey in the community to know the number and profile of residents who can be enrollees in courses to be offered by the university. Then, the institute may proceed to program marketing.

 

This benchmarking enables the institute to develop informed strategies, adopt best practices, and create innovative programs that cater to the diverse demands of learners in the digital age.