Written by John Oliver M. Ramos, MAEd (STELA COE Coordinator) | Photos courtesy of Mr. Raymart Ramos
The University of Baguio School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (UB STELA) strengthened its commitment to community engagement through its first Community Outreach and Extension (COE) Unit Meeting for Academic Year 2026 to 2027, held on August 27, 2026, at Room H207.
The meeting brought together faculty representatives from STELA’s undergraduate programs, the STELA Graduate School, and the STELA Student Body to establish a coordinated COE Unit and align the school’s outreach activities for the academic year.
Discussions focused on ongoing and planned initiatives of each program as shared by each representative, the STELA COE Workplan shared by the COE Coordinator, student participation through the STELA Student Body, and opportunities for programs to work together in addressing community needs. The unit emphasized that outreach activities should be connected to the expertise of each program while encouraging collaborative and cross program initiatives.
Among the initiatives highlighted were the successful Brigada Eskwela activities at Kias and Mabini Elementary Schools, the ongoing Literacy Outreach Program at Kias Elementary School, and the recently-concluded Graduate School Donation Drive for the Guisad Surong community following a landslide.
The unit also discussed an activity based approach to the use of shared COE resources. Instead of assigning a fixed portion to each program, resources will be divided equitably and considered based on approved activities. This approach encourages programs to share resources, collaborate, and respond to actual community needs. The meeting further encouraged every program or cluster to conduct at least one outreach or extension activity during the school year, with proper planning, documentation, and academic alignment.
Through the COE Unit, STELA seeks to strengthen a culture of working collaboratively, sharing resources, and using academic expertise to serve communities. These efforts contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through strengthened institutional and community partnerships, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, through initiatives that support and respond to local communities.
As STELA moves forward with its COE Workplan, the unit will continue to bring programs, faculty, students, and community partners together toward more inclusive, relevant, and meaningful outreach initiatives.
STELA COE Unit Representatives
- COE Coordinator: Mr. John Oliver Ramos (also standing in for the Graduate School)
Academic Program Representatives:
- Mr. John Jameson Flores, BA Communication faculty;
- Ms. Jandenne Kate Bacasen, BA English Language faculty;
- Mr. Raymart Ramos, BA Political Science faculty;
- Ms. Anna Bautista, BS Psychology faculty;
- Mr. Renevick Bayog, BEEd faculty;
- Mr. Erjay Lerio, BPEd faculty;
- Mr. Rendel Ramos, BSEd faculty; and
- Mr. Miguel Xerxes Villacrucis, BA Music Program Chair.
Student Body Representatives
- Ms. Eriel Starr Gonzales, Student Body Adviser; and Ms. Lorraine Kate Ogbac, Student Body Internal Secretary.
