MMSU opens Center for Flexible Learning

August 26, 2021

By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

 

To advance new normal education, the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) officially opened its Center for Flexible Learning (CFL) in a virtual ceremony yesterday, August 25. 

 

A first in Region I, the CFL serves as the University’s gateway in sustaining academic excellence in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic by providing its faculty and students access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, giving them limitless opportunities for teaching and learning. 

 

Complementing the MMSU Virtual Learning Environment (mVLE), the university’s learning management system, the CFL provides the hardware for flexible learning, containing rooms to be used for both collaborative and independent learning. 

 

Equipped with cutting edge information technology tools, the CFL is composed of the learning commons, a collaboration room, the International Programs Center, the Chinese Learning Center, a conference hall, the Information and Technology Center, individual study area and a café. 

 

“This is indeed a dream come true and a wonderful blessing as we start our academic year,” exclaimed MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis during the virtual launching. 

 

She said the challenges of new normal education, particularly the lack of internet connectivity and resources, had pushed the MMSU administration to realize the establishment of the world-class Center. 

 

The university president thanked the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for funding the MMSU’s project through the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, and the University’s Board of Regents, headed by Dr. Lilian Delas Llagas, for approving the project and allocating funds for it. She also commended the members of the CFL project team who were behind the establishment of the facility. 

 

She said the University is coming up with a workable scheme for students so that they can come safely to the campus and use the facilities in the future. 

 

Meanwhile, CHED Chairperson J. Prospero E. De Vera III congratulated MMSU for the launching of CFL, saying he is impressed by how the University continues to fulfil its vision in the face of the pandemic. 

 

“MMSU has seen COVID-19 as an opportunity rather than obstacle to improve learning. We will be able to address the pandemic as we all together educate and learn as one,” De Vera expressed. 

 

The CHED chairperson assured the agency will provide support to MMSU and to other higher educations institutions in the country as they fully go into the new normal education. 

 

As of this writing, the Facebook livestream of the CFL launching (https://fb.watch/7CS5tONGbE/) has already reached more than 25,000 views, 4,200 reactions, 6,700 comments, and 647 shares.

 

Aside from the CFL, MMSU has also started developing its Seamless Campus Network this year. 

 

Funded by CHED, this project aims to connect all MMSU campuses in Batac, Laoag, Currimao, Paoay, and Dingras through the installation and maintenance of Virtual Private Network, enabling the University to have a centralized control and sharing of resources and to facilitate systematic use access and optimized security management. (See article: https://mmsu.edu.ph/news/mmsu-to-develop-campus-network). (StratCom)