by Michelle Jeanne C. Caracut, OC

MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (IIT) opened today its weeklong activities in celebration of its 51st Charter Anniversary.

Acting College of Education (CED) Dean Amelia T. Buan welcomed everyone during the CED-hosted Charter Week opening program that was held in the morning at the Institute Gymnasium.

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Institute Officer-in-Charge Franco G.Teves opened the celebration on behalf of Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol who is on official travel.

Teves, in his message, said that the Institute has achieved so many things since 1968. And the recent achievement was for MSU-IIT to have made it in the ranks of top universities in Asia recognized by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

He told the faculty and staff members in attendance that for the Institute to achieve its goal to be a world class university, perhaps it should consider the three things that the famous Moroccan education economist, Jamil Salmi, identified as the key factors for achieving such a status: concentration of talents, good governance, and abundant resources.

According to Teves, MSU-IIT has an over supply of talents and he hopes that the students, faculty and staff members “do not compete negatively but to help one another, to grow, and develop further.”

He also stressed that good governance is not only the function of the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellors but also of everyone in the administration. “How do we govern is very important,” Teves emphasized.

Teves further mentioned that the Institute does not have as much resources as other universities in the country. But he said he was proud at how the Institute, despite its meager resources, was able to achieve a lot over the years.

He also reminded everyone to keep in mind the Institute’s core values, and some government rules, particularly the code of ethics for government employees, the anti-sexual harassment law, and the data privacy act. He pointed out that not only the intellect but also one’s behavior matters when government employees perform their tasks.

He encouraged everyone to work for the betterment of MSU-IIT, particularly to make the Institute a conducive learning space for all. He cited that there is a need to recognize drivers of satisfaction, and proposes that the Institute should have research studies conducted on the satisfaction levels of the Institute’s stakeholders.

The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs further pointed out the inclusion of both IQ and EQ criteria for accepting employees and students, and that the only authority to hire and fire belongs to the Chancellor. He encouraged everyone to give feedback to improve management practices and make MSU-IIT a happy work environment.

 After the opening program at the gymnasium, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the MSU-IIT Park for the Charter Day Tabo, an event organized by the Technology Application and Promotion Unit of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension.

For the schedule of the Charter Day activities, follow this link:

(https://www.facebook.com/MSUIITPH/photos/pcb.10156904226183506/10156904222538506/?type=3&theater).