“All of your students can now have a legitimate license [to] Microsoft [365]…and we're here to help you leverage that.”
This was affirmed by Comr. Raymund E. Liboro, President of Infobytes Solutions Inc., as one of the inclusions of the “Campus Digital Engagement Platform” (CDEP) which aims to digitalize the Mindanao State University - General Santos (MSU-GenSan) campus, empower stakeholders with Microsoft 365 ecosystem, and establish a Digital Media Laboratory as an IT innovation hub for the campus.
The CDEP was presented by Comr. Liboro and Mr. Dominic Cahill, Project Manager, at the Conference Room of Y-Building on May 21.
In addition to utilizing the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, the CDEP will feature a Digital Media Lab equipped with Adobe and other program-specific software, resource sharing with larger storage allocation, a new Learning Management System (LMS), and a Student Clubs and Societies Interface, among other inclusions and deliverables of the CDEP.
Mr. Jose T. Tillo, Director of the University Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO), detailed the deliverables of the CDEP which include platform configurations, the university’s website known as the Campus Web Portal, the Digital Media Lab, digital profiles utilizing institutional emails with additional applications, e-billboards via smart televisions, an interactive campus map, newsfeed and social walls, private messaging using institutional emails, and a mobile application.
Furthermore, there will be a calendar and events feature that will be used by all university constituents—from students to upper management, as it encompasses a university calendar, organizations calendar, department calendar, subject calendar, and presentation calendar.
Additionally, the CDEP will offer Discussion Forums, an interactive chatbot, Feedback and Surveys, Feedback Collection and Data Analysis, and student clubs and societies interface that will allow all academic and non-academic organizations to post events and announcements.
Digital Media Lab
Chancellor Usman D. Aragasi inquired about the impact of the Digital Media Lab, to which Engr. Mikhail Joseph Torres responded that the lab will be the hub where the CDEP resides.
“This is where not only can you produce content but this is where you can bring and expand. So, again, we're delivering a platform. We're not here to hold your hand over the years na talagang anything na kailangan niyong gawin, or anything you want to add, we have to go to [intervene] pa. We're going to give you a platform where you can be independent already and really maximize what Microsoft and the 365 tools can do,” Engr. Torres remarked.
He added that this is also where they will train, initially, the university staff so that these staff can train other sectors of the university in using this technology.
Furthermore, he stated that the Digital Media Hub will also be equipped with other software such as Adobe to enable students to do video editing, photo editing, and desktop publishing.
“So, again, you can have class newspapers ninyo, all of these publications, all of this is done through this Digital Media Lab. So, they will have all the software available there,” Engr. Torres stated.
Students’ Accessibility to Microsoft 365, other softwares
Comr. Liboro affirmed that all students at the university will now have legitimate access to Microsoft 365 following the inquiry of Prof. Norman Ralph Isla, the Vice Chancellor for Students Affairs (VCSA), regarding the availability and wideness of students’ accessibility to Microsoft 365.
The VCSA also asked if the access to Adobe and other software available in the Digital Media Lab would be accessible only within the Lab or if students could also access it as one of the perks of their institutional emails.
Comr. Liboro responded that they cannot provide yet an answer to the VCSA’s latter question.
“Dito na pumapasok ‘yung sinasabi ni chancellor, we have to now work double time in creating policies for this one… Do you think you have policies for the platform? In the same way that you are building new classrooms—the next generation learning platform, who will have primary access to that… It's a matter for the university to come up with the policies for that,” Comr. Liboro responded.
Additionally, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Mishelle D. Lawas, inquired if certain software used in some programs of the university is included in the package.
“When it comes to specialization, just like in the College of Engineering, we have this math lab and other software that we need to establish and create our design. So, is that part of the package in the Digital Media Lab?
In response to the VCAA, the ICTO Director said that the math lab and AutoCAD are included in the second phase of the project, however, the AutoCAD is still under negotiation.
Upskilling usage of new technology
Chancellor Aragasi prompted the VCAA to organize a team that would design a module to train all sectors of the university on the usage of the CDEP.
“Kasi anuhin mo ‘yan kung hindi mo naintindihan, we’re not appreciating the value of all these things. Wala ‘yung interest mo kasi hindi mo naintindihan. So it’s now our call na magkaroon tayo ng program of activities na by sector or by group na [magkaroon] ng extensive orientation on all of these facilities. Maniwala kayo, mahirap kung kinabukasan saka pa mag-aadjust,” the Chancellor remarked.
The VCAA is on the same page with the Chancellor that there will be a need for front-line technical people for capacity building.
“We need that because this time, it's our first time in the whole understanding of the technology [therefore] we have to capacitate our people so that it will not be wasted. And we have a lot of young individuals who are into this kind of laboratory and this kind of understanding,” the VCAA stated.
Moreover, Comr. Liboro also said that their team will help the university to leverage the tools in the program.
“‘Yung Microsoft 365, we have a lot of [tools] and lahat ‘yun gagawin naming kayong adept in using that. So maintindihan ninyo itong power nitong tool na ito,” Comr. Liboro said.
Before the adjournment of the discussion, Chancellor Aragasi expressed that the name of the project is too lengthy and expressed to challenge the students and stakeholders to create a slogan, which could be placed on official communication letters of MSU-GenSan.
“Can we try to create the guidelines and we will give a prize kung sino ‘yung manalo doon. Kasi that would really start to impose on every individual’s mindset that we are now transforming. Gawin nating competition,” Chancellor Aragasi emphasized.
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