UGA 2025-2026 highlights renewed commitment to DLSU educational philosophy

At the University General Assembly this AY 2025-2026,  DLSU President Br. Bernard Oca FSC expressed gratitude to the community for their work and for reaching the Golden Jubilee of the University Charter. In his message to the faculty, personnel, students, and partners of DLSU, he also urged everyone to recommit to the DLSU education philosophy of Teaching Minds, Touching Hearts, Transforming Lives, “a philosophy that springs from timeless and enduring Lasallian values: a Spirit of Faith, Zeal for Service, and Communion in Mission.”

The UGA, which was held last September 12 at the Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament, also featured messages from Provost Dr. Robert Roleda and Senior Vice President and VP for Administration Kai Shan Fernandez, who shared the achievements and milestones of the past academic year as well as the University’s priority goals and directions for AY 2025-2026.

“We were certainly very mindful of this promise when we announced at the beginning of our Jubilee Strategic Planning cycle, that De La Salle University is “Here for the Future”. The question as ever of course remains: What kind of future? Those of us who have been around long enough will know that universities have faced a version of this existential question roughly once every decade,” Br. Bernie said. 

On Teaching Minds, he said: “Let us put all our effort, without counting the cost, toward developing knowledge and understanding among our students. Let us gently but steadfastly awaken them to their responsibilities: to society, to our planet, and above all to our Creator.” 

On the work of Touching Hearts, he urged the audience: “Let a more critical understanding of the world result in an overflow of compassion and zeal to build a just, humane, and loving society. Let our ears attune to the call of the poor, the vulnerable, and those on the margins, and let our eyes see them as co-designers of a shared and sustainable future.”

Pointing out that the work of educators culminates in Transforming Lives, he said: “It is not the work of individuals; the Lasallian way is to labor together and by association, so that our students go into the world ready to be competent professionals, engaged citizens, and yes, prophetic leaders, who will not hesitate to give of themselves, because they know what it is like to receive grace from others.”

Br. Bernie likewise highlighted building on “Gratitude for the past, fortitude for the future.” He further called on everyone to exemplify these virtues, toward fulfilling the promise of hybrid learning, first-rate service at DLSU, and using the tools and routines of high-performing teams to get the most out of La Salle’s talents.

Significant developments, future directions

Provost Dr. Robert Roleda shared the most significant developments of Academic Year 2024-2025 in DLSU academics  as well as the future directions of the University for the second half of the Jubilee Strategic Plan cycle.

He cited the rollout of Challenge-Based Learning or CBL at the School of Innovation and Sustainability in Laguna, which is being implemented with 67 undergraduates taking BS in Entrepreneurship, BS in Computer Science, and BS in Information Technology.

Likewise, he cited DLSU’s Policy on Generative Artificial Intelligence, which comes into effect this AY 2025-2026. The policy is aimed at the responsible use of powerful technologies by leading with solid principles (i.e., transparency, disclosure, accountability, human agency, critical engagement) and defining guidelines collaboratively. 

He also bannered the national government’s proclamation that part of the Laguna Campus is now a Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology (KIST) Ecozone.  This is in line with the Jubilee Goal 2 (Impact), highlighting the generation of new sources of national growth from a green knowledge ecosystem. 

According to him, DLSU shall measure success by three objectives: excellent educational innovation;   student experience; and new growth. By 2027, the targets are: at least 80 percent of undergraduate courses will integrate AI-enabled, experiential learning, and Education for Sustainable Development; at least 85 percent of students will report satisfaction in annual student experience surveys; and at least 10 percent of total enrollment will come from non-traditional sources and new markets.

For her part, Senior Vice President and VP for Administration Kai Shan Fernandez presented the infrastructure developments on both the Laguna and Manila campuses, including newly completed campus infrastructure projects and renovated spaces such as classrooms, microteaching and medical physics laboratories and workspaces.   

Other developments she shared were the following: the completed switch-over to 100 percent renewable energy for all eligible buildings on both campuses; ​​ the launch of Archers Hub, DLSU’s new Student Life Cycle management system; continued improvements of DLSU’s IT infrastructure and information system security as well as network services expansion; and documented improvements to the  procurement system. 

She also cited the recent implementation of Outcomes-Based Budgeting (OBB) as a major step forward in being able to program and deploy DLSU resources effectively.  

Fernandez pointed out that to reconcile objectives and constraints, there must be a Lasallian model of service that combines two elements: one is enhancing DLSU’s in-house capabilities for delivering service and the other is doing more self-service.

“This means learning to do more basic tasks independently, relying less on staff to do them for us, so that they may be deployed toward higher-value activities,” she said. 

“As with CLAYGO, we want our expectations of service level delivery to be consistent with the values and leadership traits we wish to develop within our students. We want them to be prepared to do more things without too much supervision or assistance; we want them to be a blessing and not a burden to their future colleagues,” she added.