
The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs spearheaded the successful implementation of the first phase of the Summer Institute 2025: Training for Trainers, held on June 16–18, 2025. The program aims to build a pool of academic leaders equipped to champion innovative and learner-centered pedagogies in higher education.
The first two days focused on Mastering the Design Thinking Pedagogical Approach, a transformative training that deepened participants’ understanding of the Design Thinking framework—Sense, Empathy, Ideation, and Prototype—and its classroom applications. Through interactive sessions, the participants gained the competencies necessary to integrate human-centered problem-solving into their instruction. This was facilitated by Engr. Lloyd Jhon B. Estampa, PECE, DTE, Director for Innovative Teaching and Learning at the University of Southern Philippines.
The third day featured SwiftGrade, an AI-powered assessment tool designed to streamline grading processes and provide educators with instant feedback and analytics. The session, led by Dr. Norma J. Apao, Program Head of Computer Science and Computer Engineering at the University of Bohol, introduced participants to the practical use of AI in enhancing assessment efficiency and data-informed instruction.
This capacity-building initiative marks a significant step toward the University’s commitment to academic innovation and excellence. Participants are expected to cascade their learnings within their respective units, paving the way for a more agile, creative, and data-driven learning environment.
(Dr. Marilou V. Fudalan)