MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis shared how the University mainstreams gender equality in its functions in order to move forward and eventually raise innovations and model programs that are inclusive.

In a webinar dubbed “Gender and Development (GAD) Digital Conference” held on December 1, Dr. Agrupis said MMSU upholds equal opportunities and conditions of its students, employees, and stakeholders, stressing its mantra, “Higit sa lahat, tao para sa tapat, sapat, pantay at tunay na serbisyo” (a promise to provide honest, adequate, equal, and equitable service to people).

The virtual activity was spearheaded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office 1 in commemoration of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) which runs from November 25 to December 12.

In the webinar, Dr. Agrupis said MMSU has created the University GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) in order to institutionalize gender mainstreaming efforts across instruction, research, extension and production.   

Headed by no less than herself, the MMSU’s GAD program aims “to create, establish and sustain a holistic, comprehensive, unified, synergized, and balanced platform in instruction, research, extension and business to our stakeholders and clientele.”

“Everyone involved in the university’s operations are trained to become gender- and cultural-sensitive, thus, empowering them to work harmoniously in order to achieve the university’s institutional goals while promoting the good of society,” she said, noting that MMSU constantly monitors the sex-distribution data in all its programs in the hope to uphold equal opportunities for all university constituents. 

To support this, she presented the gender distribution of faculty and full-time researchers, and gender analysis of university officials, including the various initiatives of the university in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the challenges of new normal academic environment. 

“Responding to the situation, we directed our actions to responsive and innovative programs in order to sustain our viability as center of learning, cradle of innovation, and seat of transformative extension program,” she explained. 

These initiatives are the MMSU’s Saranay Against COVID-19, a multi-faceted program in response to the emerging needs of communities in fighting the pandemic; strengthening online teaching capability of faculty members; establishment of learning spaces in various towns in the province; and various research and extension projects of the university.  

To continuously address the new challenges, the university president assured that MMSU will intensify the utilization of the University’s Virtual Learning Environment; conduct responsive research and innovative technologies; empower people and engage communities towards resiliency; sustain development programs amidst climate change; continuously support the internationalization programs for faculty, staff and students; and maintain local and international linkages, networks and partnerships. – Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. (StratCom)