10 December 2024
Sports officials of Philippine HEIs can now dramatically improve their ability to organize major sports events and promote sports tourism with their completion of the certificate program on sports management and tourism by the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) funded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
This was the statement of CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera as he closed the two week training program by UKM in Langkawi recently. Joining De Vera in the event was Mr Mohd Rizal Zubair, Group Chief Executive Officer of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Holding Pty. Ltd., Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Maria Angela A. Ponce, and Dato’ Haslina Abdul Hamid, Chief Executive Officer of Langkawi Development Authority (LADA).
The program, Organizing Major Sports Events and Promoting Sports Tourism, is designed to capacitate and upskill participants in understanding the science behind organizing sports tourism, its financial, and administrative challenges of executing major sports events at the local, regional, or international levels.
“This program was developed consistent with the ASEAN work plan on sports for 2021-2025 and affirms the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sports declaration on the importance of sports in community building and achieving the sustainable development goals. CHED is proud to collaborate with UKM in contributing to these regional undertakings and to help strengthen the Philippine sports industry,” De Vera said during the closing ceremony of the program.
It is also being implemented upon the instructions of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for CHED to significantly increase its programs for the upskilling and reskilling of the education workforce for international competitiveness, de Vera added.
“We look forward to how our participants can now plan and implement follow through activities in their HEIs, athletic leagues, and partner with local governments when they go back to the Philippines,” De Vera added.
Twenty-six (six) faculty members, whose universities have hosted Palarong Pambansa, State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA), Private Schools Athletic Associations (PRISAA), University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and other regional and national sports competitions, were sent to Malaysia for the study program.
These faculty members are from the following HEIs:
1. Bukidnon State University
2. Sorsogon State University (2 reps)
3. Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University
4. Mariano Marcos State University (2 reps)
5. Romblon State University
6. Laguna State Polytechnic University
7. Occidental Mindoro State College
8. Southern Luzon State University
9. Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology
10. Isabela State University
11. Cagayan State University
12. Palawan State University
13. Panpacific University
14. Sulu State College
15. Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology
16. First City Providential College
17. Colegio de San Juan de Letran
18. University of the Philippines Diliman
19. National University (3 reps)
20. Philippine Normal University
The program tackled the planning and execution of major sports events based on real-world situations through experiencing practical problem-solving skills that combine theory, practical decision-making exercises, and case studies of major sports events.
The Philippine sports officials exchanged notes with industry and academic practitioners in sessions held at the Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities UKM, Sport Center UKM, UKM Shape, Academy Sports Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Chemical Defence Research Centre Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), Malaysian Sports Council, National Sports Institute of Malaysia, LADA, Langkawi International Half Marathon Organising Committee, Royal Langkawi International Regatta Organising Committee, Le Tour De Langkawi Organising Committee, Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, Malaysian Olympic Council, Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games Organising Committee (INAPGOC), Spacelabs Technology Sdn Bhd, Messrs Hakem Arabi & Associates, and President, Malaysian Press Institute, Chief Executive Officer of SUKMA and PARASUKMA, Sarawak, F&N Holdings, Kelab Sepak Raga Buluh Kuning Long Jiwa and Sport Physician Department, Hospital Sg Buluh, Ministry of Health, Malaysia.
They also visited the sports facilities with cutting edge technologies on sports science such as the cryogenic walk in system, metabolic cart, force platform, environmental altitude chamber, lode ergometers and strength and conditioning machines.
As a highlight of the short course program, the sports officials participated in the preparations and holding of the Langkawi International Half Marathon held at Mahsuri International Exhibition Center, which was participated in by more than 4,200 runners from 26 countries.
They witnessed the preparation, protocols and practices needed in hosting a world recognized event.
“Attending seminars and discussions on the economic impact of sports tourism allowed me to see how such events contribute significantly to local economies. We learned that sports events like the LIHM not only bring global attention to the destination but also help foster long-term growth and sustainable tourism. These insights will be invaluable for me as I return to the Philippines, as I now have a clearer perspective on how to integrate sports events into national and regional tourism strategies,” said Vince Esguerra, Sports and Wellness Services Office Director of Palawan State University.
“This program empowered the participants with knowledge and tools beyond textbooks. In this exciting, practical, experiential hands-on course, participants will experience and be guided on Organising Major Sports Events based on the training methodology of “How-to-do How”. It is designed to help participants and practitioners understand and prepare for the reality of executing major sports events at local, regional or international arena,” said Professor Datuk Dr Rokiah Omar, Chair of the CHED-UKM Program from UKM.
As participants, they will be able to utilize the learning materials received prior departure during Independent Learning Time and be involved in experiential learning via facilitation/flipped classroom. With this knowledge, I hope the participants will be able to promote best practices in Organizing Major Sports Events and Promoting Sports Tourism and BRINGING SPORTS ALIVE” in The Philippines,” she added.
The program is part of the CHED – Higher Education Upskilling and Study for Advancement of Staff and Faculty (HUSAY) Program, launched in September 2023, that provides full scholarships in short courses for faculty of HEIs to strengthen and upskill their capacity in collaborative research, curriculum development, and instruction.
It is a complement to CHED’s Scholarships for Instructors and Staff Knowledge Advancement Program (SIKAP) which provides a full degree scholarship to complete a postgraduate degree.
The Commission will open new scholarship slots for both SIKAP and HUSAY in 2025.
(SIGNED)
J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III, DPA
Chairman
Commission on Higher Education