CHED, Benilde partner to build ‘resilient’ higher education – Manila Bulletin

The Commission for Higher Education (CHED) has teamed up with the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) for a project to help ensure resilient higher education in the country.

DLS-CSB President Br. Edmundo Fernandez (left) and CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera during the signing ceremony of the MOA and the start of the BCP4SUC project on July 7th, 2021. (Screenshot Benilde Livestream Facebook)

On Wednesday, July 7th, CHED and DLS-CSB signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and officially started the project to plan business continuity for state universities and colleges or “BCP4SUC”. “The concept of Business Continuity Planning (BCP) is not a new concept,” said Popoy De Vera, University Commissioner and UniFAST Board Chairman.

De Vera noted that BCP “is essentially a process by which an organization plans to put in place a prevention and recovery system for threats such as natural disasters, cyberattacks and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic”.

CHED chairman Popoy De Vera during the MOA signing ceremony for the BCP4SUC project in partnership with DLS-CSB on July 7th, 2021. (Screenshot Benilde Livestream Facebook)

“It really is a plan or planning system that protects its assets, protects its staff and ensures it can function quickly even in the midst of a disaster and even after the disaster has subsided,” added De Vera.

The partnership

DLS-CSB is the implementation partner for the “BCP4SUC” project.

CHED and Benilde MOA signing ceremony for the BCP4SUC project. (Screenshot Benilde Livestream Facebook)

De Vera said that DLS-CSB was the most suitable partner, “because at the height of the pandemic, Benilde proudly announced to everyone that we will be offering more than 20 degrees online to show his ability to maximize technology in the learning system”. Benilde, added De Vera, is one of the leading private universities that has been able to continue its activities even in the worst of times.

“So I think it is only appropriate that Benilde is hosting the project, and it is only appropriate that we continue our spirit of bayanihan, the universities that work together – the better or the more advanced and help those who are less prepared.” – and of course work with CHED, ”he explained.

De Vera also thanks everyone who put this project together. “I’m looking forward to the quick implementation of this project,” he added.

In the meantime, DLS-CSB President Br. Edmundo Fernandez thanked De Vera for the school’s “trust” in the project. “We look forward to innovation, collaboration and learning from our colleagues at universities,” he said.

The project

BCP4SUC project manager Gary Ador Dionisio stated that there are many threats and dangers in society.

CHED and Benilde MOA signing ceremony for the BCP4SUC project. (Screenshot Benilde Livestream Facebook)

“We pursue the idea of ​​business continuity primarily to ensure that SUCs can perform essential functions and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all stakeholders – from students, faculty and administrative staff to” said Dionisio, who is also dean the DLS-CSB School of Diplomacy and Governance.

Overall, Dionisio said the goal is to promote resilient higher education that “responds quickly to emergencies” and “manages the risk of disease, injury and damage” while “addressing the effects of typhoons, earthquakes, floods and viruses. “

Dionisio noted that the success of the program “depends largely on a strong ICT program that we would like to encourage the SUCs to do”. The BCP4SUC, he added, “essentially supports the entire BCP of the SUC by ensuring that required ICT resources can be restored within an agreed timeframe.”

Under the BCP4SUC, SUCs would be taught how to write their own BCPs. They would also need to ensure that their BCPs are accompanied by a reliable ICT infrastructure.

Dionisio said the program has three main components: awareness raising, capacity building and digital content development. After the official start of the project, the virtual sessions for mentors and panelists will take place on July 15, 16 and July 22, 23.

Then the actual training workshops with SUC representatives (8 sessions per SUC batch plus mentoring of 6-8 weeks) take place before the paneling or the final presentation of the BCPs.

“When formulating BCP, there should be a clear understanding of what is really going on in the field,” said Dionisio. “At the same time, we will look at all the resources available to each university and from there we will help them create the BCP program,” he added.

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