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The University needs to enhance its internal capacity, systems, and culture to ensure the level of readiness and quality of delivery at ���Ǵ�ýto respond to the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution . The University Roadmap for 2020-2023 speaks about technological advances, high-speed mobile Internet, AI and automation, big data analytics, and cloud technology. Moreover, even before the covid pandemic, online distance learning has been encouraged to include “transnational education” that CHED and the British Council actively promote.

A Center for Global Studies (CGS), located on the fifth floor of the Portal East Building, envisions Silliman to nurture international relations and build new competencies by studying cultures, economies, and politics. The Center is significant and timely in this unprecedented time, especially when online education is positioned as part of the new normal.

There are three (3) primary enterprises at the Center.

1. Stackable online non-curricular programs. This includes short and crash courses, lectures, seminars, master classes for continuing education or recreational learnings. Topics are of general public interest across various disciplines. The Lao GSC will not offer degree programs. A single course may be delivered over the course of days, weeks or months.
2. On-demand Topical Contents. These products are the video recordings of past GSC offerings including pre-recorded contents that are available upon requests.
3. Assessment and certification of competencies. This service will be in collaboration with the SU-TEVEC. Notably, SU-TEVEC is also proposed to be transferred under the system of Open University. The collaboration between the Global Studies Center and SU-TEVEC in the assessment and certification of competencies complements the Open University System’s mission of democratizing education and promoting lifelong learning by providing learners with recognized and industry-relevant credentials. The proposed transfer of SU-TEVEC under the Open University System further strengthens the connection between these entities and enhances their collective capacity to provide learners with high-quality education and training that meets their needs.

Likewise, the Center also serves as a support unit of the university providing educational technology services for the university and the community at large. Specifically, the Center offers:

1. EdTech services to other centers and institutes in the University, course offerors, learners and the GSC community. This include but not limited to instructional designing, content digitization, pedagogical innovations, and technology-oriented assessment and evaluation.
2. Free computer education for diverse learners emphasizing inclusive learning. This includes community extension and service-learning activities such as free computer education for senior citizens, employees, staff, teachers, and students.
3. Collaborations and partnerships with alumni and friends, professional and research organizations, and industries

Silliman University’s niche in offering a Global Studies Center is its commitment to nurturing international relations and building new competencies by studying cultures, economies, and politics. With its long-standing history of providing quality education and promoting cultural diversity, ���Ǵ�ýis well-positioned to offer a unique and innovative approach to global studies.

Moreover, Silliman University’s proposed Open University System offers a flexible, technology-enhanced learning environment that is accessible to local and international learners. By leveraging the power of technology and innovative teaching methods, Silliman University’s Global Studies Center can reach a broader audience and provide learners with the skills and competencies they need to succeed in an increasingly globalized world.

In addition, the Global Studies Center’s components, such as the Dr. Mariano C. Lao Educational Technology Laboratory and the Dr. Mariano C. Lao Innovation, Creation, and Invention Laboratory for Community Outreach, provide a unique and innovative approach to education and training. These components offer learners with the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge in technology-oriented flexible learning modalities that are relevant in the workplace and society.

Most importantly, the course offerings will stand out by providing unique micro-credential accreditation points. Likewise, a GSC course will have Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points by the PRC. Thus, the course offerings will be valued by employers and professional bodies. Learners can showcase their professional development and enhance their career prospects.

Course Offering refers to non-curricular programs (including but not limited to seminars, lectures, crash courses, short courses, certificate courses, master classes, and creative performance) for knowledge acquisition, skills development, and life-long learning through technology-oriented flexible learning modality.

Topic. Course Offerings must have a global flavor. It can be of any topic with an intra-cross-multi-inter-trans-disciplinal transfer of knowledge, skills, and competencies. A topic can be a short continuing education or recreational learning, but on topics of public interest and cross different disciplines.

Course Duration. Each course offering should be at least 2 hours. It can run up to months.

Modality. A course can be delivered in different modalities:

Modality 1: Synchronous (100 % live online session via Zoom)
Modality 2: Asynchronous (self-paced, no live session, course materials will be pre-recorded and organized at the SU’s Learning Management System)
Modality 3: Fully Online (Synchronous + Asynchronous)
Modality 4: Blended (Synchronous/Asynchronous + In-Person)
Modality 5: Hybrid (fully online + blended)
Modality 6: Hy-Flex (Hybrid + in-person at GSC)

Approaches. A course can be delivered in different approaches:

Approach 1: Straight Lecture (the lecturer uses visual & interactive presentation like PPT.
Approach 2: Lecture – Demonstration (example: Visual, music, dance, architecture, agriculture, computer programming)
Approach 3: Performances with Open and Close Learning Notes (Example: Recital analysis, coral survey, poetry festival, sports, among others)
Approach 4: Roundtable Discussions (3-4 speakers on multidisciplinary perspective on local and global issues)

Dear Alumni and Friends:

The Dr. Mariano C. Lao Global Studies Center (GSC) of ���Ǵ�ýwas launched in August 2022. The Center primarily envisions bringing Silliman to the forefront of international and online distance education. Specifically, the Center is tasked to:

1. Promote globally-oriented, intra-cross-multi-inter-trans disciplinal global education and training in cyberspace blended, hybrid, and hy-flex modalities through the cyberplace.
2. Offer non-curricular programs (crash courses, short courses, certificate courses) for knowledge acquisition, skills development, master classes, and life-long learning through technology-oriented flexible learning modalities.
3. Provide ICT-enabled learning strategies to other centers & institutes in the university in extending and/or strengthening their programs
4. Collaborate with other international professional & research organizations for global learning opportunities

The Center is an opportunity for the university to establish a new cohort of clients in cyberspace, including alumni, retirees, professionals, and other interested learners in Dumaguete or anywhere in the world. It is a “new business” for Silliman, different from SU’s regular “residential” learning program. However, it complements each other as an “income center” for Silliman. Please see the attached brochure about the Center.

In view thereof, may we invite you as Course Offeror of the Center? A course offering refers to non-curricular programs (including but not limited to seminars, lectures, crash courses, short courses, certificate courses, master classes, and creative performance) for knowledge acquisition, skills development, and life-long learning through a technology-oriented flexible learning modality.

Your expertise and commitment to Silliman’s quality education will significantly help in the success of this new endeavor.

Thank you very much.

An inaugural lecture series is designed for the online visibility of the Center. The inaugural lecture series is delivered among the Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee and other experts who are engaged with Silliman.