DOrSU hosts CFCST graduate students for teacher-education benchmarking, campus tour
Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) hosted a delegation of 25 Master of Arts in Elementary Teaching (MAEET) students from the Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST) for a Collaborative Engagement and Benchmarking Activity held on December 22, 2025, at the DOrSU Main Campus in the City of Mati.
The visiting group, led by Dr. Queenie A. Habibun and Dr. Meriam Akmad-Rahim, was welcomed by DOrSU President Dr. Roy G. Ponce alongside university officials, including President Emeritus Dr. Edito B. Sumile, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Lea A. Jimenez, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension; Dr. Jonathan S. Cabrera, Director for Research; Dr. Jocelyn C. Arles, Dean of the Faculty of Teacher Education (FTED); and Dr. Carlos Jae D. Soliven, Program Head for the Bachelor of Elementary Education, Bachelor of Special Needs Education, and Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.
Also present were Mr. Robie V. Catubigan, Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Special Needs Education, and Ms. Emellie D. Careña, Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.
In his message, Dr. Ponce underscored the strength of DOrSU’s teacher education programs, citing the university’s consistent performance in the licensure examinations and its long-standing record of producing topnotchers—including four in the recently released results of the September and November 2025 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers. He likewise urged the visiting graduate students to consider pursuing further studies at DOrSU, inviting them to enroll in the Doctor of Education major in Educational Leadership Management under the university’s Faculty of Advanced and International Studies.
During the open forum, participants engaged DOrSU officials and faculty members in a candid, question-and-answer discussion that gave the visiting MAEET students and faculty leaders a clearer view of the university’s operational practices in teacher education. The delegation focused in particular on the research and extension initiatives embedded in DOrSU’s education programs, as well as the institutional strategies and support systems that have helped sustain the university’s strong licensure examination performance and consistent production of topnotchers.
The CFCST delegation also joined a guided campus tour that featured key learning and training sites, including DOrSU’s Learning and Information Resource Center, laboratories of the Special Needs Education program, Preschool – National Child Development Center, and the Artificial Clay Reef Production Facility.
CFCST officials said the activity is intended to generate inputs for curriculum implementation, faculty development, and facility planning, supporting continuous improvement and alignment with current standards and sector demands in teacher education.
The benchmarking visit formed part of a broader effort by both institutions to deepen academic linkages and promote collaborative learning opportunities that translate into stronger classroom practice and better outcomes for future educators.
