Members of the University Administrative Council (AdCo) convened in a meeting to review the accomplishments of various university units in the first six months of 2019 and determined solutions to arising concerns, and patterned strategic plans to the standards of University 4.0.

The 2019 Midyear Performance Review and Planning was held on August 5-6 at the Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel in Laoag City, with the theme "Planning for Universities 4.0: Mainstreaming MMSU to ACHIEVE." 

The two-day activity was graced by Dr. Napoleon K. Juanillo, Jr., convenor of the Institute for Research, Innovation and Scholarship (IRIS). He joined the panel members which composed of the MMSU officials: MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis; Engr. Ami Ruth R. Cocson, vice-president for planning and finance; Dr. Epifania O. Agustin, vice-president for research, extension and business; Dr. Prima Fe R. Franco, vice-president for academic affairs; and Atty. Brian Jay Corpuz, officer-in-charge at the office of the vice-president for administration.

Dr. Agrupis talked about the MMSU's 7-point agenda (ACHIEVE) and the university's collective aspiration to become ready for industry 4.0, revealing that she was among the 30 university leaders in the country who are committed to galvanize university partnerships for the Fourth Industrial Revolution through signing a declaration in Cebu City last July.

"Becoming a University 4.0 requires that we align our curricula to the needs of the global industry, requires that our faculty and students develop the requisite digital technology skills and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing technological ecosystem, and requires us that we refocus our research and development initiatives where we engage and do more collaborations with the industry," Dr. Agrupis said, adding that "slowly, we are coming up to this challenge".

Meanwhile, Juanillo presented the concept model of the University 4.0, saying that establishing universities as centers and hubs of excellence in innovation and entrepreneurship is a key strategy for the model.

"Through this strategy, future-oriented targets such as university programs encouraged to "cross-pollinate" courses/degree programs to engage faculty and students in the collaborative and multi-perspective nature of innovation and entrepreneurship, are easily attained," he said.

After the opening program, members of the AdCo presented their accomplishments in the first and second quarter of 2019 based on Program Expenditure Classification (PREXC), a performance management tool.

The presenters in the midyear performance review were the academic units - Graduate School, COL, COM, CAFSD, CASAT, CAS, CBEA, CHS, CIT, COE, and CTE; and the directorates such as research, extension, business, science and technology park, physical plant and general services division, library system, information and technology center, registrar/admissions, student services and development, financial management services, external linkages and partnerships, human resource management, quality assurance, strategic communication, health and wellness services, center for human movement studies, administrative services, security and monitoring services, and the planning.

The midyear performance review and planning was organized by the Planning Directorate. The year-end performance review and planning will be held in December.