PJM marks first Stakeholders’ Forum with impact-driven agenda push
By Wimbledon Bosque
In his first Stakeholders’ Forum as university president, Dr. Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. gathered with valued partners of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) on February 6 at the Center for Flexible Learning to promote impact-driven institutional agenda.
The forum was actively supported by the administrators, faculty members, and student representatives to discuss the university’s strategic direction, align institutional priorities, and surface pressing concerns from offices and academic units.
Leading the discussion, Dr. Manzano presented the university’s SUCCEED agenda, outlining strategic directions anchored on sustainable solutions, innovative resolutions, inclusive decision-making, and impact-driven outcomes, particularly in research, student welfare, licensure examination performance, and the promotion of a bullying-free campus.
“𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀”
Dr. Manzano urged faculty members and researchers to pursue studies that respond to concrete community needs, translate scholarly outputs into tangible social gains, and generate immediate and measurable local impact. He also emphasized the strategic inclusion of early-career staff in research initiatives to broaden and sustain MMSU’s research workforce.
“Our research agenda must be impact-driven, community-anchored, and inclusive. Knowledge production should not end in publication but should be mobilized as an instrument for local transformation and capacity-building,” he challenged the researchers.
𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁
Dean Marlina Lino of the College of Arts and Sciences raised concerns over the lack of appropriate classroom accommodations for left-handed students, stressing that inclusive learning spaces should account for physical diversity to ensure equitable academic support.
Dr. Manzano acknowledged the concern and assured that student well-being remains a priority in the university’s planning processes, adding that such feedback will be considered in future procurement and classroom improvement initiatives.
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Participants also proposed the development of a mathematical framework to compare MMSU’s institutional passing rates with national licensure examination results. The model aims to situate university performance within a broader national context, identify strengths and gaps, and provide an empirical basis for data-driven academic interventions.
The framework is expected to guide the refinement of review programs, strengthen student support systems, and fortify MMSU’s competitiveness in licensure examinations.
𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲
Calls were likewise raised to review and strictly enforce institutional policies aligned with the Safe Spaces Act to address and prevent workplace bullying and harassment. Emphasis was placed on strengthening awareness initiatives, reporting mechanisms, and accountability measures to ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment.
𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
Insights and recommendations raised during the forum will be used to strategically map responses to identified concerns and look for opportunities for collaboration and partnership.
Vice President for Planning and Strategic Foresight Mee Jay Domingo shared the value of partnerships in sustaining institutional growth, saying that “our growth lies in strong community partnerships.”
The Stakeholders’ Forum, the last event of the university’s 48th founding anniversary, is a platform for dialogue with stakeholders to refine strategies and realign initiatives toward the university’s mission and vision. It shows MMSU’s participatory governance framework, leveraging stakeholder inputs to drive inclusive reforms as the university aspires to become a premier university in Southeast Asia by 2033.
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