WMSU beefs up preparation to include peace studies in curriculum
The Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) through the Peace and Human Security Institute (PHSI) in collaboration with International Alert Philippines (IAP) spearheaded a writeshop on curriculum development for peace studies at LM Hotel last May 30-31, 2022. Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena, WMSU President, graced the event with her presence and gave an inspiring message on the importance of adding peace studies in the various academic programs in the university. “We are now vying to be a university offering peace studies in our curriculum”, said Dr. Ochotorena. Dr. Nursia A. Barjose, Vice President of Academic Affairs, welcomed different faculty members and the guest. speakers to the said event. While Asst. Prof. Ludivina Borja-Dekit, PHSI Director, gave an overview of the composition of the WMSU delegates. COL. Yasser R. Bara, Asst. Chief of Unified Command for Intelligence (UCI) of the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) talked about the area of responsibility of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the security challenges the country is facing, and WESTMINCOM’s campaign and peace initiatives. PLTCOL. Benifer O. Torrecampo, Asst. Chief of Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RDMD), then shares his knowledge regarding the community’s role in Crime Prevention. He gave tips on how to spot a suspicious person and enhance monitoring of persons in the neighborhood. Also included in his presentation, was the 10 principles of Crime Prevention. NUP Jay-ar L. Supnet gave a presentation on Crime Environment and compared the months of March and April 2022 by the numbers with a series of slides with statistics taken from the Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS). An open forum was also done for the engagement between the participants and the great speakers in the case of clarifications regarding the previously mentioned presentations. Ms. Minda Sano of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement then gave a presentation on the culture of Dialogue Path to Peace: Silsilah Experience. International Peace Leadership College President, Dr. Venus Agustin, which so happens to be the resource person of the event, explained the role of schools in teaching Peace Studies. 2 workshops were done in the two-day event that focused on the creation, implementation, and evaluation of the peace studies-oriented curricula designed by the participants for their respective colleges. Dr. Agustin saw to it that the curricula presented were relevant, consistent, effective, and sustainable. The 2nd workshop for the Curriculum Development Committee was also conducted. The presentation and critique of the curricula was done for all colleges before Dr. Teresita A. Narvaez, Vice President of the Research Extension Services and External Linkages (RESEL) gave the closing remarks to officially end the two-day writeshop. (PAO-MASSCOM/INTERN)
