Mindanao University of Science and Technology Is Not Yet Capable of Being University of Science and Technology of the Philippines (USTP)
Mindanao University of Science and Technology who ranked #91 among of the top 100 University of the Philippines which recently announced that the Committee on Higher Education and Technical Education in Congress is now mulling the passage of a bill proposes the conversion of the institution as the University of Science and Technology in the Philippines (USTP). But as early as now the students gave their conclusion about the USTP proposed.
This is what the conclusion of the 9,270 students of Mindanao University of Science and Technology together with the mother organizations came up with a united stand of the resolution No. 14 S.Y 2014-2015 which stated that
WHEREAS the Supreme Student Council (SSC) realized that the students are not yet convinced that the University is indeed capable of being the USTP.
The students who read the resolution have altered reactions and have many questions as well. Some students ask if the SSC made their survey before the conclusion was made and if yes why they did not saw the survey. Students as well are making debate on the thread of FB where the resolution was posted.
In my opinion I think this is also a good sign that even students know the capability of the University if they will get into the next level.
How about you what are your thoughts about this resolution? You can check as well the statement below with quote.
Just a piece of clarification why SSC (not just I) deemed MUST not yet capable of being USTP; because the bill establishing this national university does not fully translate our good intentions of development to a concrete charter protecting the interests of the main stakeholders of the university- the students.
What the Bill says?
I. Bigger budget- the USTP may be given bigger budget but it will entail as well as bigger salaries to engineers, technologists and scientists employed in the university. These salaries and incentives will not be in accordance to the Standardization law which is observed today. In short, Engineers, Technologies and Scientists employed in USTP will receive HIGHER salaries compared to professionals of their same field working in other industries. It is clear that there will be no displacement of Instructors after the conversion therefore, all of our present instructors, will all receive higher salaries. Even those who don’t go class regularly. With these, the bigger budget promised to USTP will not directly benefit the students.
II. Change in the membership of the Governing Board- (Article 4 of the House Bill)
The present governing board is composed of: (under RA 8292) CHED Chairperson, University president, Faculty Union President, SSC President, Alumni President, DOST Secretary, NEDA Secretary, Senate Representative, Congress Representative, 2 private sectors representative. (11 members; 10 with voting powers)
The USTP Governing Board will be composed of: CHED Chairperson, University president, Faculty Union President, SSC President, Alumni President, PTA President, DOST Secretary, NEDA Secretary, 4 private sectors representative, and two(2) academicians. (14 members; 13 with voting powers)
Although adding a representative of the PTA join the Governing board is beneficial, there is no need to increase the number of representatives of the private sectors and adding academicians to governing board. This will only allow the inclination of the Governing Board towards the protection of the private sector interest; NOT THE STUDENTS. Moreover, in the Selection process, the private sector representatives and the academicians which will all be endorsed by the university president must be CEO’s of multi-national companies and are experts in their fields. Appointments will also entitle them for future re-appointments. In this case, as executive officers of their companies it is less probable for them to have a good background, acquaintance and experience of the real score in the university. It is less efficient to have more people without the direct business in the university to be prioritized in terms of representation in the BOR; compared to the students, faculty, alumni, and parents who knows the reality inside and around the university.III. All other promises USTP hold can be implemented in the university even as MUST.
3.1 Academe-industry linkage- the university has a lot of signed MOA partnerships with different industries, but only a few are felt by the students. If the system is not improved, even if we change strategies a hundred times, without changing the system, results will still be the same. More to that, there is no provision prohibiting MUST to partner with private industries at its present status.
3.2 S and T Park- Given that the land in Alubijid is now a property of MUST, and that USTP plans to lease the land to industries to form these S and T parks, with proper studies, it can be implemented as MUST.With all these,we hope to give you additional insights on the matter.
those students are only thinking with their selves. didnt they know that instructor in that university have small salary??? dli man pd tanan instructor cgeg absent oi. para sa ako, kung naa man instructor nga ingon ana, maulaw nana xa mudawat nga walay sulod2 kung mudaku ang sweldo. quality education is expensive but we have the government to shoulder kung unsa to…… pero kung mahimo na ug ustp ang must ug labihan ka daku pud ang increase sa tuition fee, thats another story.