The Commission on Higher Education has awarded Certificates of Program Compliance (COPC) to Southern Leyte State University – Tomas Oppus Campus for its Master of Arts in Education Major in Science, Master of Arts in Education Major in English, Master of Arts in Education Major in Social Science, and Master of Arts in Education Major in Filipino.

This recognition affirms SLSU’s commitment to delivering quality education that meets national standards and prepares graduates for professional excellence. #WeAreSLSyoU

Southern Leyte State University (SLSU)-Tomas Oppus Graduate School faculty gathered in the Graduate School Conference Room for a transformative Seminar-Workshop on Flexible Learning Design on December 12, 2025, equipping them to overhaul linear courses into dynamic, skills-focused modules that meet evolving industry demands and global trends.

Anchored in a significant academic shift, the workshop addresses changing learner profiles, industry expectations, and global trends. It equips faculty with tools to transform linear, content-heavy courses into flexible, dynamic, and skills-oriented modules – a pedagogical responsibility that makes learning more relevant, applied, and responsive to graduate students' needs.

This initiative directly advances UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through inclusive, innovative teaching methods; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by developing industry-relevant skills; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) via international collaboration with BELCO's network.

Participants engaged with key topics under the guidance of Dr. Maurice Cuypers, CEO of BELCO—a network of 30 universities across Asia and Europe dedicated to accessibility and educational advancement—and professor at Fontys University in the Netherlands. Sessions covered: Topic 1, Concept and Didactical Approach on Flexible Learning Design; and Topic 2, Changing a Linear Program into a Short Intensive Program and Session. Faculty then crafted learning design schedules for the Graduate School and presented their outputs.

Dr. Clemente H. Cobilla, Campus Director, emphasized the workshop's impact: "We look at how we can move from traditional, linear programs to short, intensive, and impactful learning modules – and more importantly, how these approaches can empower our students to thrive in an ever-changing world."

The activity convener, Dr. Lilibeth Tindugan, head of the EdD program, concluded, "Today's insights promise to shape modular, skills-focused, and transformative learning experiences for our graduate students, fostering innovation in graduate education." 

In the afternoon of December 12, 2025, Southern Leyte State University–Tomas Oppus Campus successfully conducted a Writeshop on the Unpacking of PRC LET Competencies at the Graduate School Building, gathering faculty members for hands-on training in constructing intended learning outcomes (ILOs) and LET-like test items aligned with the Professional Regulation Commission’s (PRC) Table of Specifications.

Campus Director Dr. Clemente H. Cobilla opened the activity with a welcome message, emphasizing the university’s continuing commitment to strengthening teacher education and supporting LET preparation through research-based practices.

This was followed by the Statement of Purpose and the Presentation of PRC LET Competencies delivered by Dr. Norla Grace A. Betarmos, Dean of the Faculty of Teacher Education. She highlighted the importance of understanding and unpacking competencies as a key step in creating valid and reliable assessment tools for aspiring teachers.

The main part of the event focused on guiding participants through the process of deriving target skills, prerequisite skills, intended learning outcomes (ILOs), and LET-like test items from the competencies listed in the PRC Table of Specifications. Participants worked step- by-step to break down competencies, identify required skills, translate them into learning outcomes, and construct LET-like test items aligned with the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy and the composed ILOs.

The program concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Lilibeth S. Tindugan, Program Head of Educational Management, who commended the participants for their active involvement and encouraged them to apply competency unpacking in their academic and professional work. The writeshop reinforces SLSU–Tomas Oppus Campus’ commitment to raising the standards of teacher training and promoting competency-based approaches in preparing future LET takers. This supports SDG4 (Quality Education) by strengthening teacher preparation, improving assessment quality, and ensuring inclusive and equitable education through competency-based training.

Educators gathered at the Southern Leyte State University- Tomas Oppus, Mini-Theater on December 13, 2025, for Project WIKAnTALK Phase II, a whole-day writeshop aimed at strengthening flash fiction writing among contributors of PAJAG: Dyornal ng Malikhaing Akda. The activity, themed “Pagpapanday at Pagsibol ng Panibagong Malikhaing Akda: A Writeshop on Flash Fiction for PAJAG Writers,” is part of the extension initiative WIKAnT.A.L.K. (Teknolohiya at Awtentikong Lapit tungo sa Karunungang Pangwika’t Panitikan). It is a collaborative project of SLSU Tomas Oppus Campus and the Department of Education–Division of Southern Leyte.

Dr. Mark B. Galdo, head of Research, Innovation and Extension Services and project leader of WIKAnTALK, delivered the opening message, highlighting the role of creative writing in cultivating language, culture, and identity among Southern Leyteño writers, while Dr. Hilda Olvina, Education Program Supervisor in Filipino of DepEd Southern Leyte, expressed institutional support for the project.

A key highlight of the morning session was the lecture “Pitik-Sulat, Pitik-Kuwento: Dagling Likha sa Isang Hinga,” delivered by Dr. Riza L. Lacerna, WIKAnTALK facilitator and faculty member of the Filipino Education Program. The talk introduced participants to the discipline and artistry of flash fiction, emphasizing precision, imagery, and depth despite brevity. The workshop proper followed, allowing participants to write, critique, and refine their outputs through guided sessions and open discussions. Selected works were presented in the afternoon, showcasing narratives grounded in local realities and creative imagination.

The activity concluded with the awarding of certificates and a closing message from Dr. Galdo, who emphasized the continuing role of WIKAnTALK and PAJAG in sustaining creative writing and advancing Filipino language and literature in the province. This supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 Quality Education and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.