The Office of Field Activities (OFA) Diliman conducted a benchmarking activity with selected offices from the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) on October 9. The initiative aimed to gain insights into the policies, guidelines, and strategies employed by other universities and institutions for managing outside-of-the-classroom activities, such as local and international field trips, fieldwork, internships, and other field-related endeavors.
OFA Diliman Director Asst. Prof. Arlyn P. Macapinlac led the delegation, together with the OFA staff including Dorothy Mae Forneloza (Senior Project Assistant for Project Management), Carlos Noel T. Gacutan (Senior Project Assistant for Training and Education), and Samantha Grace M. Delis (Staff Member).
Key participants from ADMU included Michael Jacinto “Cholo” F. Mallilin (Office of Student Services Director), Rene Salvador R. San Andres (Associate Dean for Student Affairs), Genesis Kelly S. Lontoc (Department of Economics and Social Sciences Associate Chair and Student Exchange Coordinator), Ronald Y. Rodriguez (Office of Placement and Career Services Director), and Karen C. Sunico (Office of International Relations Director).
On off-campus activities and internships
In the course of the roundtable discussion, the importance of establishing clear guidelines to ensure the safety and welfare of students during off-campus activities was highlighted. As part of this approach, the ADMU administration adopted the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum, aligning it with Ateneo’s Jesuit, Filipino, and Catholic identity.
“Nakikita namin yung mga off-campus activities namin as reflecting and enforcing the values of Catholic social teaching—na dapat talaga, integral sa ating education… na lumabas kayo sa classroom. Because this is the cornerstone of Ateneo education: the Jesuit mission of forming men and women for others; but we still need to follow the law as set by the DepEd and CHED to take into account particularly ‘yung mga policies that will ensure students’ well-being, welfare, safety, and security while they are off-campus,” Dir. Mallilin stated.
The General Guidelines on the Conduct of Off-campus Activities of Ateneo De Manila University was issued in 2018, encompassing all university activities (both curricular and non-curricular) within the local context. These activities include educational tours, field trips, immersion activities, organizational events, sports-related activities, and competitions.
For internships and on-the-job training (OJT), ADMU follows a separate structure. The release of the CHED memorandum prompted the Ateneo administration to establish a centralized committee specifically responsible for local internships and practicums and a separate office for international activities.
In contrast, OFA Diliman oversees all UP Diliman academic field activities (AFAs), both local and international, provided they align with the approved competencies and learning outcomes of the respective course. Non-curricular activities fall outside the scope of the Office.
Commitment to excellence
“We assist the academic units. The primary purpose of the university is academics… [by] training the students to eventually acquire their degrees. In order to reach the diploma—that’s the endpoint—there are many things that have to be done. And we are here to assist students and academic departments to achieve their objectives,” Assoc. Dean San Andres highlighted.
Through this benchmarking activity, OFA Diliman reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the quality of experiential learning at UP Diliman. By engaging with other universities and institutions, such as ADMU, OFA Diliman aims to adopt best practices, guidelines, and policies that align with its mission to ensure the effectiveness and safety of academic field activities.
This initiative underscores OFA’s proactive efforts to refine its policies and frameworks, ensuring that field activities align with the University’s goals while prioritizing student safety and academic relevance. Through meaningful collaborations and engagements, OFA Diliman strives to elevate the standards of quality experiential learning at UP Diliman and its constituent units.
