A Department of Champions: The DCR’s Achievements for the First Semester, AY. 2020–2021
As a part of the College of Champions, the Department of Communication Research (DCR) has indeed emerged as one of its victors. Despite the hardships and struggles that the pandemic, numerous typhoons, and the new FlexTel modes of learning had brought to the department — it still boasts numerous achievements that its constituents have worked hard to obtain and are, most definitely, worthy to be proud of.
The following are the DCR’s notable achievements in the first semester, AY 2020–2021:
More than 300 Students with 1.70 and Higher GPAs
An estimate of 285 students under the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Research are President’s Listers (PL), whereas 25 students are Dean’s Listers (DL). In the PUP student handbook, it is stated that to qualify as a PL, a learner must have a GPA between the values 1.0–1.50. Dean’s listers, on the other hand, must have a GPA between 1.51–1.70. A student must not have a grade lower than 2.50 in any of their courses to qualify for either.
Even then, due to various conflicts regarding the transcription of grades, many students have still not received their final grade point average (GPA). This fact makes it possible that the number of listers may still increase once these conflicts have been resolved. [Total estimate was taken April 18]
Local and International Recognition of DCR Students and Alumni
The immense talent that both DCR students and alumni possess is recognized at both local and international levels — as proven by the awards and scholarship grants that they have received within the first semester. Mentioned below are only some of the featured students that have excelled in their craft and fields, respectively:
Cathyrene L. Peñaflorida from BACR 3–2 qualified for a scholarship grant to attend an exchange program held by the Centre for Experiential Learning for the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) last February 1, 2020.
In April 2020, Francisco B. Bautista, Jr, a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Communication Research batch 2010 had received Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD), an annual award funded by the European Union. The EMJMD is an integrated study program that is cooperatively delivered by several tertiary education institutions.
Rhay Daniel Racoma, a student from BACR 4–2, Batch of 2019, won at the recent virtual exhibition, “Neighborhood Matters,” which was organized as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2020 last December 10, 2020. His winning photograph featured the Pasig City Mega Market.
Collaboration with the Penang Institute in Malaysia and Other Institutions
An international partnership among the DCR, the Centro Escolar University (CEU), Penang Institute in Malaysia, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), and the Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics (RECSAM) supported by the United States (US) Department of State, US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, was established on March 17, 2020. The partnership bore a three-day international workshop discussing important aspects of Media, Information, and Literacy.
Successful Launching of UNDERSCORE Online
Despite challenges in the past, UNDERSCORE Online launched on September 10, 2020. The conception of the virtual publication was already in the works even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. UNDERSCORE Online is a student-led publication of like-minded individuals with a goal to produce research-focused and data-driven information and content while promoting the essence of research by showcasing the accomplishments of the students and faculty of the PUP Department of Communication Research.
The First DCR Virtual General Assembly is Held Successfully
Mass gatherings were deemed prohibited due to the COVID-19 pandemic amassing thousands of cases at the start of the first semester, making it impossible to form a physical general assembly. Despite this, the Circle of Research Enthusiasts (CORE) and the DCR conducted the 3-day general assembly virtually last September 21, 23, & 25 2020 — and was met with tremendous success.
Various Webinars with Esteemed Guests
December 2, 2020, the CORE along with esteemed speakers from Canva launched CanvaXCORE, a webinar teaching the Basics of Graphic Design, Presentation to Impress, and Creating Engaging Video Content.
While this year, on February 25, skills in the niche of Digital Marketing were taught by an educational webinar titled “BUDL: Strats in Digital Marketing na pang-Like, Share, at Add-to-Cart” which was successfully launched by students under BACR 2–1.
On February 18 in the same year, The Department of Communication Research Alumni are invited to be the speakers in the COC Alumni TalkBack Webinar Series Webinar. The DCR Alumni shared their most valuable experiences and knowledge that may help aspiring social scientists that had attended the webinar.
The students of BACR 3–1N launched an educational webinar entitled “Usapang Tahanan: How to Become an Askable Adult” which talked about topics regarding advocacies in Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) education, sex education, and domestic abuse. This webinar was held on March 19, 2021.
Meanwhile, a zero-waste environment is what the webinar by students under BACR 3–1N aimed for when they launched The Project MEME (From Micro-Efforts to Macro Effects: Building a Zero-Waste Environment) educational webinar last March 31, 2021.
PUP COC-DCR passes AACCUP Level II accreditation
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines, College of Communication-Department of Communication Research passed the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) Level II Accreditation on February 15, 2021. According to the official website of the university, accreditation is a recognition awarded to an institution that maintains a certain level of educational standards.
To more victories
There definitely wasn’t any shortage of obstacles that the DCR constituents had to face in this first semester—yet the department had still managed to rise above these problems and achieve a lot of successes. All of these victories in the first semester show us that there is a lot more to come, as the department has proven time and time again that its students and other constituents possess a great number of skills and talent.
However, these achievements should not be another tale of resiliency — these achievements should be a reminder that with better circumstances, students and other constituents are able to enjoy a healthy environment where their passions and perseverance would bear more fruit. The students’ call for #AcademicEase and #LigtasNaBalikEskwela must be heeded in order to lighten their assigned workload and improve the overall quality of education.
