𝐂𝐨𝐄𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲, 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐚 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐞

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𝐂𝐨𝐄𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲, 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐚 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐞

Catanduanes State University (CatSU) faculty, Dr. Jose Z. Tria of the College of Education (CoEd), was awarded as one of the Most Inspiring Teachers (MIT) of the Republic of the Philippines July 2021 last year, and was recently granted an honorary degree, Profesor Ad Honorem Vitasta Ambassador Distiction Honoris Causa by the Saceda Youth Lead School last August 4-6, 2022. It was in celebration of the 10th anniversary of MIT with the MIT Convention 2022 held at Foundation University, City of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines, in collaboration with the Universite Henry Dunant, Republic of Ivory Coast, a subsidiary of the UHD Geneva, Switzerland.

Saceda Youth Lead is a Youth Serving Institution of the Philippines under the auspices of the National Youth Commission of the Philippines. Since 2013, the organization has been awarding teachers and school heads in the country that possesses strong leadership, passion and dedication to education, which have become great inspiration to the youth. Their partner institutions are DepEd, CHED, TESDA, ASEAN, UNESCO, NYC (National Youth Commission), various local government units, and many more.

Dr. Tria presently the Director of Research and Development Services, gained recognition for his exceptional efforts that made an impact inside and outside the University. Dr. Tria is a Ph.D. graduate and has participated in several local and international conferences, awarded with best presenter and paper award. He conducted and published studies with more than 200 Google Scholar citations. Along with more than thirty copyrighted creative works used in instruction, research and extension activities, and different musical performances. He has co-led academic programs and spearheaded vital projects that involved teachers, youth, and the Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Philippines. He is also an Associate Member of the National Research Council of the Philippines and an active member of various education-related organizations locally and internationally.

Dr. Tria was the youngest to receive the MIT award at 26 in 2021, an honorary degree in 2022, the only Bicolano MIT in the 2022 batch, and the first Catandunganon to receive both. He mentioned that the most valuable legacy of an Honoris Causa is for making it possible to influence and inspire change for himself, thus, ensuring stronger families and communities for a better and safer Philippines. He said, "being a teacher is a multifaceted profession - we teach and we learn, we relearn and we unlearn, we adopt and we adapt, we love and we care, but most of all, we always inspire. The pandemic has changed how we live. The face of education has also changed dramatically - and one thing a teacher can do is to do the right thing and to teach ourselves right - and to balance everyone's aptitude and attitude."

The Profesor Ad Honorem/Vitasta Ambassador Distinction Honoris Causa is an acknowledged mark of professional excellence and ability, inspiring and outstanding professional career, services to humankind, and international achievements. Some of his co-MITs conferred with the honorary degree were heads of academic institutions, university presidents, directors, SDS, program supervisors and specialists, professors, deans, principals, school heads, retired professional teachers and teachers coming from different parts of the Philippines. To obtain the Profesor ad Honorem Vitasta Ambassador Distinction, the nominated MIT must have at least 120 points coming from several sets of criteria such as achievements, travels and conventions, leadership, contributions and influence, affiliations, awards, talents and skills. The Conferral Ceremony of the MIT was presided by the Universite Herny Dunant of Ivory Coast through the leadership of Dr. Aimé Kouassi Malanhoua, President and Co-Founder of Université Henry Dunant and made possible by the partnership between the University and Saceda Youth Lead, headed by Dr. Dave G. Saceda.  #GZafe

Photo Credits: Dr. Jose Tria