The seven-member delegation of the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA)-Calabanga Campus held a benchmarking activity at the Institute for Micro-credentials of Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF) on August 27, 2025, with an aim of boosting skill-based education in the Bicol region.
Cognizant of the ever-changing landscape of education and industries, the delegation from the CBSUA-Calabanga, led by Dr. Jenelyn C. Aguelo, Dean of the College of Education, expressed interest in equipping students with high-value skills—aligning competencies with global industry demands.
According to CBSUA-Calabanga, the most effective learning comes from an institution that pioneered the convergence of education and innovation, and has an exceptional track record in expanding pathways for targeted skills training and certifications. This principle guided the institutional exploratory visit to NCF.
Setting the stage of collaboration, Dr. Dennis Franco M. Layug, President of the East West International Educational Specialist, Inc. (EWIES) and NCF Trustee, virtually welcomed the CBSUA-Calabanga and asserted that the latter is in “good hands (at NCF)” and “on the right path towards developing micro-credential programs.”
The Institute for Micro-credentials, headed by Dr. Sheila E. Balid-Bordado, Vice President for Digital Transformation, hosted a discussion on matters related to developing certificate programs, establishing partnerships with industries and content providers, and ongoing compliance with CHED Memorandum Order No. 1, series of 2025.
Dr. Bordado, in her message, traced the origins of the micro-credentials at NCF and attributed the steadfast innovation of its curriculum and facilities to the “visionary leadership and forward-thinking mindset” of the NCF President, Mr. Mario C. Villanueva.
In the spirit of a collaborative approach to sharing best practices, Mr. Brenn Yulo M. Bacus, Training and Communications Manager, talked through the Institute’s profile, the process of selecting the programs offered, coordination with EWIES and academic departments, as well as the procedures for training sessions and certification.
Inquiries related to the complexities of implementing the micro-credential programs, including the compliance with regulatory standards—which both parties believed to be streamlined through a structured alliance—were addressed as the exchange of insights progressed.
If given the green light, such an alliance was “already built on a solid foundation,” as stated by Ms. Teenarose O. Castroverde, Vice President for Administrative and Institutional Affairs, considering the previous engagements of the two parties.
The CBSUA-Calabanga delegation visited the Institute for Micro-credentials and Language Center—a laboratory dedicated to institutional initiatives of reinventing students’ portfolios—shortly after the plenary discussions.
Moreover, the schedule for consultations with the EWIES on the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), NUADU, Rubicon, and myEduscape programs, as requested by CBSUA, will be finalized in the coming months.