Holy Name University launches new urban development learning program
(Left photo) University officials of HNU and GGU, together with local environmental planners, and USAID during the virtual launch of UDLP. (Right photo) Fr. Ruel Lero, President of HNU, expressed the university’s appreciation for the new urban learning development program.
Holy Name
University (HNU) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, launched its Urban Learning
Development Program (UDLP), a new course offering which was developed in
partnership with the Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California and
the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on June 5, 2020.
The new
program is called Executive Diploma in Urban and Regional Development. It is a
21-unit post-graduate diploma course covering at least three to four semesters.
It includes subjects such as fundamentals and practice of urban and regional
planning and development, research methods in planning, land use planning and
development, planning analysis, urban plan implementation, natural resource use
and development, and urban planning workshop.
“HNU is
grateful and fortunate to pioneer this program in the southern part of the
Philippines. We hope that through this program, we will be able to mentor and
capacitate the planners for the development of the communities through
strategic plans and directions,” said Fr. Ruel Lero, President of the Holy Name
University, during his message.
Through
the UDLP, national and local government agencies, professional planners, and
private organizations are envisioned to work hand in hand to strengthen
comprehensive integrated planning and decision-making for the city’s and Bohol
province’s pressing challenges and issues. The program is also expected to
contribute to the formation of a pool of capable professionals with a deep
sense of social responsibility and cultural identity in urban and regional
development.
HNU
underwent a series of coaching sessions with Golden Gate University and USAID
to design the UDLP. Although HNU did not have any academic program associated
with urban development, the curriculum and resource mapping showed that that
there are several subjects relevant to urban planning across its colleges and
centers. A participatory approach was employed in the module creation,
particularly on the components of clustered themes, module description, learning
outcomes, methodology, content outline, and learning assessment tool.
“USAID is
looking forward to a new generation of students, urban planners, architects,
and local executives gain holistic knowledge in planning and transform urban
development to create livable and resilient cities and communities,” said Ms.
Marian Cruz-Navata, Urban Planning Specialist of USAID/Philippines.
“Golden
Gate University is very pleased to support this initiative. Here in San
Francisco, a lot of tech companies work with urban development professionals to
build resilience, growth, and an accessible and socially just society. We are
very happy to share this experience with the Philippines,” said Dr. Joaquin
Gonzalez III, Chair of the Department of Public Administration and Executive
MPA Program of the Golden Gate University.
HNU held
a virtual ceremonial opening of classes for its new graduate program on August
8, 2020. Officials of USAID and Golden Gate University joined HNU in welcoming
the pioneering class of 30 students.
In
December 2019, HNU conferred an honorary Doctorate of Management in Human
Resources to U. S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim in recognition of his
valuable contribution to the development of the Bohol province.