SLSU Conducts 4-Day Workshop on Outcome-Based Education Using Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight

Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) conducted a four-day capacity-building workshop titled "Using Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight to Improve Our Curriculum: A Workshop on Outcome-Based Education (OBE) – Part 1" held from April 29 to May 2, 2025. The workshop featured activity-based sessions designed to strengthen curriculum development and ensure alignment with outcome-based teaching and learning principles.

Resource speaker Dr. Reynato Andal Gamboa, a consultancy expert in engineering education and OBE assessments from Batangas State University, led the workshop. Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in a mix of input presentations and collaborative workshops that provided theoretical grounding and practical application.

On Day 1 of the workshop, faculty members explored the fundamentals of the engineering education system and quality assurance under Outcome-Based Education (OBE 101). The session included a workshop where participants assessed their programs and identified key areas for quality improvement. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to OBE 102, which covered the development of Program Educational Objectives (PEO), Graduate Attributes (GA), Program Outcomes (PO), and Performance Indicators (PI). Faculty teams collaborated to draft and align these elements with their existing programs, advancing the quality of engineering education.

On Day 2, the focus was on alignment strategies. The morning kicked off with OBE 103, a session that explored the alignment of outcomes with the university's mission and with regulatory and accrediting bodies such as CHED and AACCUP. It was followed by a workshop allowing participants to review institutional goals and align them with specific program outcomes. The afternoon session focused on OBE 104, tackling curriculum mapping using Introduced/Reinforced/Demonstrated (I/R/D) indicators. Participants mapped learning outcomes across courses to ensure developmental progression throughout the program.

The workshop dedicated the third day to exploring OBE 105, during which faculty learned how to formulate course outcomes (CO) that align with broader program goals. Educators were tasked with writing measurable and achievable COs. In the afternoon, the OBE 106 session focused on developing syllabi that align with outcomes-based education (OBE) and constructive alignment principles. Faculty refined their syllabi to ensure consistency among learning outcomes, teaching strategies, and assessments.

On the final day, Day 4, participants explored best practices for designing assessment rubrics that effectively measure student achievement of outcomes. This session included a workshop where attendees developed their rubrics. To conclude the event, the faculty showcased their work. They shared insights on implementing Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) within their respective disciplines, allowing for integration and reflection on what they had learned.

The intensive, activity-based format ensured the participants understood OBE principles and applied them directly to their curricular materials. With laptops and syllabi in hand, SLSU educators left the workshop with actionable plans for enhancing the quality and relevance of their academic programs.

The workshop aimed to strengthen the university's curriculum development processes by equipping faculty members with the essential knowledge and skills in designing and aligning course content with specific learning outcomes. This initiative aligns with SLSU's mission to deliver quality, student-centered education and ensure institutional readiness for national and international accreditation.

Faculty deans, program heads, area chairs, and faculty members from various disciplines actively participated in the workshop, including those from the Faculty of Engineering (FOE), Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management (FHTM), Faculty of Technology (FOT), Faculty of Computer Science, Information Technology, and Engineering (FCSIT), and SLSU's Bontoc, San Juan, Hinunangan, and Tomas Oppus campuses.