OCESL gears up for ‘proactive’ service-learning efforts in 2023-2024

Attendees of the Service-Learning Forum last August 23, 2023 at the Guy Hall

Silliman University Office of Community Engagement and Service-Learning (SU OCESL) Director Novee Maestrecampo Jr. said the University is taking on a proactive approach in its service-learning initiatives for the academic year 2023-2024.

The OCESL presented its proactive direction for integrating service-learning in academic programs and community engagement in teaching-and-learning programs and widening its network of partners during its Service-Learning Forum last August 23, 2023 at the Guy Hall.

“We at OCESL, along with different academic units, are glad that we are getting back on track in integrating service-learning as part of their strategy in teaching different courses. [For academic year] 2023-2024, OCESL will proactively advance the promotion of service-learning, aligning itself with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as the guiding framework for our community engagement initiatives, including service-learning,” said Maestrecampo.

The OCESL also presented its accomplishment report for the school year 2022-2023.

Asst. Prof. Ruth Ann S. Entea, OCESL’s newly appointed service-learning coordinator, led the presentation on service-learning at SU.

Meanwhile, Asst. Prof. Gemma B. Kitane, a faculty member at the SU Institute of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, and Assoc. Prof. Alvyn Klein A. Mana-ay, a faculty member at the Nutrition Dietetics Department, shared their service-learning experiences in their respective departments.

Dr. Evangeline Bravo-Manjares, former dean of Nassau Community College (NCC), State University of New York, and member of the SU Board of Trustees, shared best practices in applied learning at NCC.

Claire Tenaja, College of Nursing student, and Micah Saycon, College of Education student, also shared their service-learning exposure during the Japan Summer Service-Learning Program at International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan.

Faculty members, department chairs, and associate deans from 25 departments at SU participated in the forum.

(With reports from the SU OCESL; Photos from the SU OCESL)

Asst. Prof. Ruth Ann S. Entea, OCESL service-learning coordinator

Dr. Evangeline Bravo-Manjares, former dean of Nassau Community College (NCC), State
University of New York, and member of the SU Board of Trustees