On the second quarter of 2021, DMMMSU Open University System (DOUS) Faculty and Staff Training and Development Program is almost on the finish line as 70% of the total number of trainings have already been conducted. Trainings took off on January 27, 2021.
The series of onsite and virtual trainings was conducted in order to equip the academic workforce of DOUS in addressing instructional challenges in the new normal.
The 17 trainings were grouped into four clusters: 1) Soft Skills and Cognitive Skills, 2) Upskilling, Re-skilling, and Cross-skilling, 3) Technology related Trainings, and 4) Mental Well-being.
Under the first cluster (Soft skills and Cognitive skills), two out of three trainings have been conducted: Training on Syllabi Making and Test Construction and Design Thinking in Education: Innovative Pedagogy and Andragogy in the New Normal. The third one is a training to be hosted by the Philippine Education Measurement and Evaluation (PEMEA) and will be participated in by key DOUS staff on May 2021.
Under the second cluster (Upskilling, Re-skilling, and Cross-skilling), all five trainings were held and they are the following: 1) Basic Occupation First Aid Training, 2) Training on Basic Customer Service Management, 3) Training on Research Ethics, 4) Training on Research Publication and Refereed Journal, and 5) Human Resource Development: Workplace Diversity.
Meanwhile, two out of three trainings under the third cluster (Technology related Trainings) have been conducted. They are namely 1) Training on Google Classroom Content Development, and 2) Training on Virtual Customer Service. The third one is an international conference for open universities, hosted by the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) which is scheduled on June 2021.
Lastly, 50% of the trainings lined up under the fourth cluster (Mental Well-being), have been conducted. These trainings are the following: 1) Training on Mental Resilience, 2) Gender Diversity and Social Inclusion, and 3) Emotional Intelligence and Leadership. Three upcoming trainings are on the areas of Performance Management System, Public Service Values in times of adversity, and Emotional Reset.
These trainings were participated in by DOUS faculty and non-teaching staff, and some staff from other academic units of DMMMSU. Various resource speakers from the university and other agencies/organizations provided the learning content either onsite or online. Safety and health protocols were observed in the conduct of the trainings.