PHINMA UPang, Laguna Network hold two-day student leadership benchmarking

Student leaders and Center for Student Development and Leadership (CSDL) officials from PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) and the PHINMA Laguna Network conducted a two-day benchmarking activity from October 6 to 7 to strengthen student leadership, exchange institutional best practices and enhance collaboration across campuses.

The activity was held primarily at the RVR Library on the second floor of Rizal College of Laguna (RCL), Calamba, Laguna, bringing together administrators and student officers from different institutions under the PHINMA Education network.

Representing CSDL UPang were Director Adele S. Traspe, Carmela De Perio, Hannah Bautista, and Bryan Pepito, alongside CSDL Laguna Director Justine Troi Castillo. The UPang Supreme Student Council (SSC) delegation was led by former SSC President Robert Gabiola, together with student leaders John Michael De Leon, College of Allied Health Sciences Ralph Aguirre, SSC Vice President, Aaron John Capuno, and The Students' Herald Ex-Officio EIC Mark Barcelona.

During the Director’s Hour, Traspe urged student leaders to improve their service and identify additional ways to address the needs of their constituents.

“Kailangan mag-step-up bilang student leaders para makita natin kung ano pa ang kaya nating ibigay para sa ating mga constituents,” Traspe said.

He also emphasized the importance of understanding student culture and campus traditions in developing leadership initiatives and student services that respond to the needs of each institution’s student population.

The benchmarking sessions covered student publication management, student governance, recognized student organizations (RSOs) and community engagement programs.

Discussions on student publications led by TSH's Barcelona presentation "the JOURNey" focused on public information officer empowerment, transparent budget monitoring, and streamlined application processes for publication staff.

Gabiola presented the structure of student governance at PHINMA UPang, including the operational strategies of its RSOs. Meanwhile, Governor Ralph Aguirre and De Leon discussed the university’s community and environmental initiatives, including Brigada Eskwela, Helping Hands, UPang Goes Green, Mobile Blood Donation, and Lamparaan.

Student leaders from the Laguna network also presented their respective campus initiatives. Central Student Council (CSC) President Donna Sabihon of the PHINMA RCL Central Student Council (CSC), and China Rodriguez, president of the PHINMA Union College of Laguna (UCL) CSC, shared their institutions’ flagship programs and student engagement activities.

The activity concluded with guided campus tours at RCL and UCL, where the visiting UPang delegation explored campus facilities, interacted with student representatives, and observed the institutions’ student life and campus culture.

The benchmarking activity provided an avenue for student leaders and CSDL representatives from the participating campuses to exchange practices and explore approaches to improving student leadership, organizational management, and campus engagement.