Mindanao State University (MSU) – Main Campus, in a significant collaboration with the University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB) through its Office for Institutional Development in Higher Education, hosted the Higher Education Leadership Mentoring Seminar (HELMS) today, September 29, 2025, at the CHTM Pavilion. This intensive, day-long program brought together leaders and educators from various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
The seminar opened with a welcome address where MSU System President Atty. Paisalin P.D. Tago, CPA, stressed the initiative’s core mission: “HELMS initiative is a platform for exchange of
knowledge, building of partnerships, and co-creation of strategies to address the evolving challenges of our higher education institutions. As we know, universities and colleges today are tasked not only with instruction and research, but also with being active drivers of innovation, public service, and nation-building.”
The morning agenda focused on core academic administration challenges through a series of plenary sessions. These featured Dr. Maian P. De Leon, UPLB Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, who discussed University Research Governance and Culture; Dr. Val Randolf M. Madrid, Associate Professor of UPLB College of Arts and Science, who addressed the Imperatives of Digital Transformation in Higher Education Institutions; and Dr. Janette H. Malata-Silva, UPLB Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, whose presentation focused on Digitalizing Student Affairs and Services: Model of Practice in the New Normal.
The afternoon sessions will shift focus to institutional development and public engagement, beginning with presentations from distinguished speakers. Dr. Roberto P. Cereno, Technical Consultant for the UPLB PASEO Project, will speak on HEIs as Edutourism Destinations. Dr. Jenelyn F. Padrones, UPLB Director for Institutional Development in Higher Education, will speak on Building Connections, Shaping Futures: UPLB Initiative on Co-creating Knowledge and Public Service with Higher Education Institutions. Finally, Dr. Alona C. Linatoc, UPLB Director of the Office of Counseling and Guidance, will discuss the UPLB Office of Counseling and Guidance: A Pillar of Support for Mental Wellness and Academic Success.
Following the individual presentations, a crucial Plenary Roundtable Discussion titled, “The Future of Higher Education Governance and Academic Leadership,” will take place, synthesizing the day’s learnings under the moderation of Dr. Janette H. Malata-Silva.
The HELMS seminar builds on a partnership milestone between MSU and UPLB, cemented on July 31, 2025, when the two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Bangkok, Thailand, making today’s gathering one of the first and most significant fruits of that commitment.
The hosting of HELMS stands not just as a testament to the strong partnership between MSU and UPLB, but as a bold declaration that institutions in the region are actively forging a future where higher education leadership is synonymous with resilience, progressive governance, and a commitment to national development.
