Dr.

Solomon U Molina College

Villaflor, Oroquieta City
Twinkle S. Nietes
BEEd- ECE IV

Peace Education (Educ. 8)

Reading Summary 2002

Source: Official Research Publication of the Philippine Association for Graduate Education, Vol .6 No.1 February 2002.

New Literacies: Graduate Educations Response to a Knowledge Based Society

By: Solomon U. Molina, Ph.D.
At the outset, let me congratulate
Dr. Anicia Alvarez, PAGE IX
president, Dr. Marlene Tillah, PAGE
National board member, and the
others; and the dynamic participants
of this congress foe attending this
forum. This undertaking is really a
breakthrough and crucial because we
have
been
experiencing
rapid
technological
change
and
advancement, a manifestation of a
knowledge-based society and that
consequently everybody in graduate
education should undergo a periodic
dose of advanced training.
This is so because graduate
education being fountainhead or at
the top should be able to initiate
leadership,
quality
instruction,
research
and
extension.
Consequently, its quality can cascade
into
tertiary,
secondary
and
elementary levels of education, and
more importantly can become an
instrument in creating quality life for
everybody.
Surely, the literacies that we forge
in graduate education cannot be
divorced from the following scenarios
and realities in our world.
Firstly, the world is entering the
sophistication of an information age,
led by the telecommunications
revolution.
Everywhere,
the
convergence of computer and
communication technologies is seen
as highly beneficial and governments

and organizations all over the world

have rushed headlong into what can
be called technology binge in the
confidence that lavish spending on
information technology will ensure
success and progress.
This a very simplistic way of
looking at things and information
technology (IT) because it is going to
make things more complicated. IT
itself is in transition. We have a
mistaken faith in its benefits and its
ability to solve problems.
Granted that there are countless
benefits from information technology,
but these advantages do not come to
us for free. We think we know the
price of IT, but there is no way to
calculate total costs, because we do
not fully comprehend the nature of
this phenomenon. The price may be
levied here and now; but the cost
accumulates from here to eternity. So,
most evaluations deal with long-term
commitment on the basis of shortterm factors such as efficiency and
effectiveness. Rarely if ever, is
obsolescence
stage
can
be
destabilizing to an organization. It
prevents competitive progress by
prolonging these obsolete structures
behind a protective faade of
computerized efficiency. Ian O. Angell
proceeded to say that when the crash
comes, as it must, the damage will be
substantially worse. There is a real
confusion about the characteristics of
what is after all a very complex and

uncertain challenge. This challenge

we face with a singular lack of
understanding.
Information
technology is itself in transition on a
global scale, and we have no clear
grasp of what it really is, where it is
going,
or
technology.
The
convergence of computer and
communication could in fact be a
falsehood. This assertion gives the
impression that both technologies are
of equal status: Perhaps, it is
communication, not calculation that is
driving change and giving the
apparent commercial change. Maybe
computers are just a solution looking
for a problem; a solution with doubtful
merits. Perhaps what we have is a
number of different technologies and
their vague classification under one
label is going to cause even more
confusion.
Up
to
present,
computer
education and business application
have concentrated on the last of the
three steps in our information
domain
the
channel
of
communication that is significant,
when it is apparent that the seeds of
both success and failure really
happen in the first two steps namely:
the information that is being
transmitted and the reasons for its
transmission (1); and how it is being
used (2).
Secondly, the challenges that we
face in the 1990s and into this 21st
century are three-fold. The first one is
related to environmental protection
with particular emphasis on the
ecological
impact
of
present
strategies and policies for producing
and consuming energy. The second
challenge concerns poverty, the
growing extent of which affects not
only
increasing
numbers
of
developing
countries
but
also
significant minorities in industrialized
countries. The third one concerns
reforms
of
complex
systems

undertaken in the North and in the

South in the wake of recent political
and social developments; in the rich
nations and efforts are being made by
third-world countries to respond to
debt crisis through a range of social
and economic reforms.
Thirdly, the world is populated by
people who are pluralistic in nature.
These people have diverse cultures,
philosophies
and
orientations.
Acceptance of these differences
means the world is helped get better
and better. The transition to a global
society will be successful only if the
worlds
multicultural
identity
is
preserved and the integration of
diverse elements in a new democratic
and non-ideological entity is ensured.
Only if the ideals of multiculturalism,
democracy and pluralism come from
the grassroots, will they have a
chance of working creatively. Then
they are an expression of peoples
desire to live together and to retain
their identity yet improve their lot and
condition; and certainly pluralistic
process of development, of tolerance
and of creativity are the most
important ingredients.
At this point, I am reminded of
Cole
Brembecks
model
for
development. He said that there is no
disparity between the governments /
societys and educations goal, that is,
the creation of s quality life for
everybody. Translated into specific
terms and areas, then, you will have
education for economic, political,
cultural,
social
and
scientific
development in order to forge and
enhance societal (whether national or
international) transformation.
In conclusion, let me say this
congress is very timely because now
is the time for social and natural
scientists, teachers and artists,
communicators and researchers to
begin
stepping
beyond
the

boundaries of their fields and start

working together and building a
dialogue.

Dr. Solomon U Molina College

Villaflor, Oroquieta City
Twinkle S. Nietes
BEEd- ECE IV

Peace Education (Educ. 8)

Reading Summary 1998

Source: Official Research Publication of the Philippine Association for Graduate Education, Vol .3 No.1 October 1998.

Summary: STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR GRADUATE EDUCATION

By: Dr. Roberto T. Borromeo
Vice President, FAPE
The Context of Graduate Education

an era described by futurists as the most

exciting decade of our lives
the 21st century as the century of man-made
competitive advantage
knowledge explosion/scientific breakthrough;
technological advancement
modernization, urbanization, industrialization
and countryside development
regional
cooperation,
integration,
globalization
enhanced nationalism
rapid technology diffusion
landscape for graduate education changing
at an accelerated pace
all current degree programs and structures
will require rethinking
learner will have many choices
only world-class offerings will thrive
highly focused institutions will succeed in
network learning

redesign the organization, its structures, and

its tools
redefine individuals roles and responsibilities
reengineer processes in the transformative
context

Strategic Planning

Challenge to Graduate Education

to provide the nation with the human

resources-imaginative, technically talented
individuals critical to addressing pressing
societal needs; competing in the global
marketplace
to ensure public understanding of the
potentials and limitations of education,
science and technology
realign the organization with its changing
environment

for graduate education to be responsive to

the challenges, graduate schools cannot
continue to plan the way they always have
which oftentimes has been characterized
by an excessive concern for internal
efficiency and an emphasis on
quantitative measures for educational
development
graduate schools must seek new
paradigms of operation to enable them to
address their traditional roles with greater
effectiveness and to reach new
partnerships to address the serious
opportunities and obligations
strategic planning will help ensure the
relevance and responsiveness of
graduate education by creating a
favourable future where graduate
education will succeed
for graduate education to make a
difference, graduate schools must be
innovative and entreprenuerial, doing the
best in all areas of undertaking
those who shape graduate education
must take cognizance of the external
environment, the internal capabilities of
graduate schools, and the core values

upon which
founded

graduate

education

is

Some Areas for Analysis:

External Environment
1. Implications
of
economic
development on graduate programs;
balance
between
practitioners
degrees and research degrees
2. Role of government agencies (CHED)
and professional associations in
shaping directions of graduate
education
3. Potential
role
of
information
technology on content and delivery of
graduate programs (Internet, remote
classrooms, video conferencing, etc.)
4. International cooperation and a
availability of funding for graduate
education
5. Demand for graduate education; is it
for advanced training or simply to
enhance
employability
(Dores
diploma disease)
6. Government support for graduate
education
7. Provisions for equity and access to
graduate education
8. Demand for people with graduate
degrees

10. overall impact of graduate

programs-locally, nationally, and
internationally
Goals of Graduate Education
1. What is the mission of graduate education
(push the frontiers of knowledge, search for
truth, instill sense of disciplined inquiry, equip
people with knowledge and skills beyond
undergraduate training? Why?
2. What values should graduate education be
guided by?
3. What values should graduate education instill
in its students?
The Bottom Line
If there are things that you could change in
graduate education to make it relevant and
responsive, what would these be?
Strategy Definition

Internal Situation
1. responsiveness of graduate
program offerings to societal
demands
2. ability and diversity of students
3. quality of faculty (academic
training, research, professional
experience)
4. quality of academic resources
5. quality of facilities
6. student
professional
accomplishment during graduate
studies
7. student contributions to teaching
research and outreach programs
while on studies
8. excellence of papers, theses, and
dissertations
9. graduates eventual contribution
to their field and society

guided by the analysis, define desired

future for graduation education
define role of graduate education in
society and its reason for being
define guiding principles and general
strategies to be adopted
define linkages between the national
system of graduate education, the
regions, and the institutions
formulate an operational plan at the
national, regional, and institutional levels
to realize the desired future

Example of 21st Century Key Performance

Indicators (Dolence & Norris 1995)

ability of students to communicate oneon-one with facility

access to global information network
access to unlimited library collections
demonstrated value program
flexible curriculum
flexible schedule
lifelong learning support
network access from faculty/mentors

availability
systems

of

personalized

learning

Concluding Statement

for graduate education to be relevant and

responsive, its directions must be clearly
defined
must meet the highest standards and
recognize that students, their families and
society at large look to it for leadership
and solutions to the complex problems
that attend societys entrance in to the
twenty-first century
fundamental re-examination of the goals
of graduate education to broaden its
mission to take into account more
explicitly the needs of the society
strengthen curricula to develop a variety
of skills and respond to the need for
creative, technically trained people
prepare students for an increasingly
interdisciplinary, collaborative and global
job market

provide a broader educational experience

through such mechanisms as internships,
independent study, or minor degrees
ensure that graduate learning in the 21 st
century will serve as a gateway to
perpetual collaboration by strengthening
linkages between and among institutions,
and students
continuously evaluate, and where
necessary revise programs and degree
opportunities to ensure that the resources
of graduate education are contributing to
the long-term interests of society
respond to a changing world as it pursues
its commitment to research and training in
the intellectual skills to make its students
productive and adaptable
take its social responsibilities seriously to
inspire students with a purpose large
enough to fill their lives with meaning,
otherwise they will fail to do everything
that can do to make the Philippines and
the world better, happier places.