Under Chancellor Carmencita Padilla’s third term, UP Manila is envisioned to be a nurturing environment for accelerated change and innovation to advance academically and maintain its competitive advantage. To drive the university in this direction for the next three years, a two-day planning workshop via Zoom was held for the top management officials, deans, and directors from November 30 to December 1, 2020.
With the theme “Sustainable Leadership: UP Manila Beyond 2020”, the event brought together leaders across units to work as a community as they respond to the post-COVID-19 environment through enhanced 4Cs: Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication skills. The workshop was facilitated by management expert Prof. Federico “Poch” Macaranas, Asian Institute of Management (AIM) professor and AIM Policy Center Executive Director, who shared concepts and insights that can be utilized in pursuing implementable programs in line with the university’s vision. Prof. Ester Ogena and Dr. Renato Bersoto were also present to impart their thoughts and suggestions that complement the discussions.
Day one of the workshop focused on the behavioral aspects of seeing the “Big Picture,” the “Role of Middle Manager,” and “Game Theory” with exercises based on the movie Parasite and the article “Too Small to Fail: Prisoners’ Dilemma”. The second day concentrated on an in-depth discussion on short-, medium-, and long-term SWOT analysis; at the same time applying the concepts of People, Ideas, and Things (capital investment for academic and outreach purposes) on specific problems.
The entire workshop covered four breakout sessions that the officials actively participated in. With help from digital technologies such as Jamboard and Google Slides, 74 attendees who were grouped into 7 teams combined their knowledge and ideas and presented them in attractive and well-articulated outputs. A fun and interactive poll using Mentimeter was also utilized that sparked a connection among the participants while their answers and opinions are visualized in real-time.
At the end of the workshop, the participants were challenged to make use of the strategies learned and their implications on scaled up partnership efforts, communication for collaboration, and deepened UP Manila engagement with its stakeholders. Capping the two days filled with learning experiences was a fellowship night featuring global performer and UP Diliman BA Psychology graduate, Kiara Dario. She serenaded the attendees with dazzling Broadway songs and a few numbers from the musical Ang Huling El Bimbo where she performed as a cast member.
Anne Marie Alto
Featured in UP Manila Healthscape (Special COVID-19 Issue No. 20, 30 November 2020)
