10 state colleges, universities to offer biotechnology courses

Sixteen state colleges and universities nationwide will soon include biotechnology in their existing curriculum in a bid to popularize the subject and eventually help the country benefit from the relatively new field.

The University of the Philippines’ National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and the Commission on Higher Education, has developed the program instituting a General Education (GE) Biotechnology Course in the curriculum of selected state colleges and Universities (SCUs)

Dr. Cynthia Hedreyda, NIMBB director, said that while there is limitless information on biotechnology, there is not enough popular awareness of the subject.

Biotechnology is defined as “the use of living organisms, especially microorganisms, in industrial, agricultural, medical and other technological applications.”

She said biotechnology education in the country is disseminated primarily through workshops and symposia conducted by scientists, people from the academe, government agencies like the DA and the Department of Science and Technology.

“These attempts, are, however, not sufficient to make knowledge of benefits derived from products of the new technology, particularly the agricultural products of modern biotechnology, widespread,” she said.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the introduction of the biotechnology course is “one of the many initiatives that we are undertaking to vigorously promote the safe and responsible use of biotechnology is its inclusion in the college curriculum, initially in 16 selected state colleges and universities.

He said, “Our aim is to equip Filipino teachers, students and other interested individuals with the basic knowledge, and enable them to make informed decisions on biotechnology products and latest breakthroughs and developments, and related issues on human health and the environment, and ethical concerns.”

“Further, through this initiative we hope to encourage more Filipino youth to pursue a career in the field of biotechnology, either as researchers and scientists or entrepreneurs,” he added.

The Cavite State University and University of Southern Mindanao have begun offering three units of the biotechnology course to their students.

Segfredo Serrano, DA undersecretary for policy and planning, said the integration of the biotechnology course in the college curriculum “will help transform biotechnology education into something we can benefit more from.”

Biotechnology courses cover a variety of topics from the history of traditional and modern biotechnology, the use of biotechnology for health, environment and industry, legal battles, and ethical issues.

State schools’ IT systems severely lacking: lawmaker

State universities and colleges (SUCs) are way behind in rolling out basic IT systems such as those that would enable students to pay for tuition electronically and retrieve their grades online, a lawmaker said Sunday.

Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago, chairman of the House committee on information and communications technology, has urged SUCs to establish area alliances and invest in groups in essential IT networks.

"We recognize that IT systems require extra spending that many SUCs can’t readily afford if they each decided to invest one by one. Thus, one practical approach is for them to form partnerships, combine limited financial resources, and develop shared networks," Santiago said in a press statement.

"This is what community colleges in the U.S. are doing. Groups of community colleges share IT systems that allow their students to pay fees online via credit or debit cards, and access their grades electronically," said Santiago, also former chief of the National Telecommunications Commission.

Students in American community colleges can even apply and pay for a transcript online, he pointed out.

"This can be duplicated here. For instance, all SUCs in Bicol can cost-effectively invest in a common IT system," added Santiago, whose home province hosts a state school – the Catanduanes State Colleges (CSC) based in Virac.

He challenged SUCs to embrace and harness new technologies to boost administrative cost-efficiencies.

"There is no question that SUCs stand to lessen administrative costs, reduce paperwork, and generate huge long-term savings from shared IT systems," Santiago said.

"Right now, the campuses of SUCs have long queues everywhere during enrolment and releasing of grades. And schools have to force many staff and pay them extra to work overtime just to be able to cope with those waiting in line," he added.

At present, the country has 110 SUCs. They have 444 main and satellite campuses nationwide with a combined student population of more than 900,000. In addition, the country also has 77 local universities and colleges (LUCs).

SUCs are chartered public higher education institutions established by law, administered and financially subsidized by the national government. LUCs are those established by the local government through resolutions or ordinances. LUCs are financially supported by the local government concerned.