Education is key to building stronger communities that can withstand disasters and the climate emergency. Universities are stepping up to prepare the next generation of experts with the knowledge and skills needed to anticipate, adapt to, and recover from these threats. Investing in education, research, and training programs is crucial for tackling these growing challenges.

In a move that underscores this crucial task, representatives from the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI), the UP Open University (UPOU), and the UP Los Baños Graduate School (UPLB GS) met to discuss the development of graduate programs focused on building resilience.

The meeting was led by Professor Jomar Rabajante, Dean of UPLB GS, Professor Joane Serrano, Dean of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of UPOU, Asst. Professor Ruben Gamala, Director of the Education Division of UPRI, and Mr. Richard Ybanez, Chief of the same division. Asst. Professors Maria Lourdes Jarabe and Lianne Angelico Depante of UPOU-FMDS, and Ms. Flordeliz Agra and Mr. Gabriel Tan, staff members of the UPRI Education Division, were also present.

From right to left, Ms Agra, Asst Professor Depante, Mr Ybañez, Dean Rabajante, Dean Serrano, Director Gamala, Asst Professor Jarabe, Mr Tan, and Ms. Ebron.

This collaborative effort aims to establish separate graduate programs designed for professionals that complement each other and will offer different specializations and modes of delivery most suitable for a particular student-practitioner or learner. UPOU, in partnership with UPRI, will offer a Master of Climate and Disaster Resilience through open and distance learning while UPLB GS will offer a Master in Resilience Studies through a residential program.

Dean Rabajante discussing the Master in Resilience Studies of the UPLB Graduate School.

This initiative reflects UPRI’s commitment to empowering local communities through multidisciplinary actions toward resilience. The establishment of UPRI itself was driven by the university’s commitment to disaster risk reduction and mitigation. This collaborative partnership with the UP Open University to develop a degree program is yet another step towards the realization of this commitment.

Both programs aim to equip professionals with the necessary tools and knowledge to build a more resilient future. Details on the specific programs and their launch dates will be out soon.

 ♦ Crossposted from UP Resilience Institute  ♦ 

Sustainable Development Goals

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