The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños University Health Service (UPLB-UHS) formalized a partnership on 19 August 2024, to provide clinical internship opportunities for UPOU Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN) graduate students.
UPOU Chancellor Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) Dean Joane Serrano, and MAN Program Chair Ria Valerie Cabanes, together with UPLB Chancellor Jose Camacho, UPLB Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Roberto Cereno, UPLB-UHS Director Jessie Imelda Walde, and UPLB-UHS Head Nurse Eugene Valencia signed the letter of affiliation to officially formalize this partnership.
Asst. Prof. Margaret Jarmin-Suarez, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) Program Development Associate for Institutional Linkages; Asst. Prof. Regine Karla Bagalanon, FMDS MAN faculty member; and nurses from UHS also graced the event.
Chancellor Bandalaria acknowledged how UPLB has always been present ever since UPOU was established. As its neighboring campus, UPLB has shared all forms of assistance with UPOU. This partnership is a momentous event for both campuses as UPLB-UHS could provide the physical and in-person facilities that UPOU needs to help fulfill the learning outcomes of the MAN program. Chancellor Bandalaria emphasized that the quality assurance framework must be in place and this partnership helps solidify the implementation of the MAN program.
Chancellor Camacho expressed that this is another milestone with their neighboring campus enabling UPOU MAN students to have access to experiential learning in their university hospital. He believes that this partnership also helps level up the cooperation and collaboration with each other upholding the value of One UP.
UHS Director Walde shared that UHS is a small structure with big functions and services. She gave assurance that UPOU students will be given the best exposure and education in clinical nursing with their guidance and support.
Dean Serrano closed the event by highlighting the importance of UPOU’s partnerships with different hospitals in implementing practicum and intensive practicum courses of the MAN program. She expressed her gratitude to UPLB-UHS for this partnership and shared how both MAN students and UHS staff can learn from each other.
Written by Zyrene Villanueva ♦ Edited by Myra C. Almodiel and Anna Cañas-Llamas ♦ Photo by Anna Mhari Duria
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