The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Chancellor, Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, and the UPOU Office of Public Affairs Director, Dr. Myra C. Almodiel, served as resource speakers for the 19th Knowledge Exchange Conference (KEC19) organized by the Philippine Community eCenter Network (PhilCeCNet).
On the first day of the activity, Dr. Almodiel served as the resource person for the two sessions. Her first presentation tackled the Sustainable Development Goals, while her second presentation was on 21st-century Competencies.
Chancellor Bandalaria, on the other hand, gave a lecture on topics about “Lifelong Learning Skills” for the third session and “Global Digital Citizenship” for the fourth and final session of the 2-day conference.
The event also featured networking sessions among participants. In addition, Marketplace of Ideas sessions were held throughout the two-day event, during which participants shared the Community eCenters projects and programs they run in their eCenters.
The KEC19 is a two-day capacity-building program held on 25-26 July 2024 at Summit Ridge Hotel, Tagaytay City, Cavite. The event is co-organized by the Department of Information Communication and Technology (DICT) and partners, namely, UPOU, Quezon Power (Philippines) Limited, and PLDT Smart.
Carrying the theme “Empowering Futures: Building Capacities and Connecting Communities” – is the second milestone of PhilCeCNet’s Digital Inclusion and Transformation for All Roadmap. Participants of KEC19 are Local Chief Executives, Knowledge Managers/Workers, and other eCenter stakeholders all over the country who are advocating development through modern information and communications technologies (ICT4D).
KEC is held every year, and in its 19th year, the focus is to conduct a Competency and Output Based Certification Training in accordance with the National Competency Standards for Knowledge Workers, provide the latest updates on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in promoting Government Services and Citizen Empowerment; and Sharing best practices among eCenter operators. The practical and relevant topics covered in the conference are part of PhilCeCNet’s capability-building program, dubbed KEC19TASK Course 2024.
KEC is the Philippine Community eCenter Network or PhilCeCNET. It is a learning and collaborative community of CeC stakeholders that supports the building of responsive, efficient, valuable, and sustainable CeCs. Chancellor Bandalaria served as President of PhilCeCNet from 2021-2023. Dr. Emely Amoloza, a UPOU Faculty Member, is the current Treasurer and Secretariat of PhilCeCNet.
Written by Anna Cañas-Llamas ♦ Edited by Dr. Myra C. Almodiel