In his welcome message, Dr. Kristian Q. Aldea, Vice President for Academic Affairs, stressed the need to rethink syllabus design as a foundation for deeper learning. He also thanked UPLB faculty members for bringing their expertise to CatSU.

Day 1 discussions zoomed in on micro-credentials, with Dr. Rufo Gil Z. Albor of UPLB’s College of Human Ecology leading the session. He described micro-credentials as short but structured certifications that validate specific skills and competencies.

“All micro-credentials are short courses, but not all short courses are micro-credentials,” Albor pointed out, highlighting their defining elements: rigorous assessment and real-world application.

He outlined the range of micro-credentials now gaining traction — from standalone and stackable programs to corporate training, MOOCs, professional licenses, and soft skills certifications. Stackable credentials, he added, may be bundled toward diplomas or degrees, in line with the Commission on Higher Education’s Memorandum Order No. 1, s. 2025, which sets the national framework for micro-credentials.

In the afternoon, Dr. Jenielyn T. Padrones facilitated a proposal development workshop, where CatSU faculty drafted micro-credential programs and received peer feedback.

The training will continue tomorrow with UPLB’s Dr. Inero V. Ancho discussing constructive alignment and the anatomy of an outcomes-based education (OBE) syllabus, before wrapping up on August 20 with sessions on effective assessment strategies.