Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Central Mindanao University (CMU), through the Language Education Department of the College of Education, successfully held the first-ever extension study in the university to be granted Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit units by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). The Training-Workshop on Enhancing Coaching and Teaching Pedagogies (ECATeP) for Private School Educators on Improving Students’ Communication Skills took place on July 11–12, 2025, at the CED Simulation Room and CED Computer Lab.
Accredited under PRC Application No. PROG-2025-109671, the training awarded 10 CPD units to licensed professional teachers who completed the two-day program. This groundbreaking initiative marks a significant milestone for CMU as it expands its extension work into certified professional development, underscoring the university’s commitment to educational excellence and community engagement.
The event brought together 31 participating teachers from three private school partners: Loyola School of Don Carlos, Inc., Pangantucan Community High School, and Roman C. Villalon Memorial Colleges Foundation, Inc. These educators took part in an intensive and engaging learning experience aimed at improving their coaching strategies and pedagogical approaches to enhance student communication skills.
Led by Dr. Julie Ann A. Orobia, Chairperson of the Language Education Department and Study Leader of ECATeP, the program featured parallel sessions under the themes of “Coaching” and “Teaching Pedagogies.” Participants explored key topics such as communication styles, articulation drills, academic writing structure, public speaking, grammar, authorship ethics, and the integration of the six traits in writing instruction.
Day 1 covered communication styles, articulation drills, genre-based academic writing, and the six traits of writing. Day 2 focused on ethics in writing, grammar strategies, and public speaking. Participants took part in workshops, breakout sessions, and output presentations, allowing for hands-on application and peer-to-peer learning.
The success of ECATeP was made possible through the efforts of the organizing committee, composed of faculty and staff from the College of Education, with the full support of the CMU administration. The event concluded with the awarding of certificates, reflections from participants, and expressions of gratitude from facilitators and collaborators.
In her closing message, Prof. Fe H. Mantong expressed appreciation for the unwavering support of the CMU administration, the partner schools, and the entire ECATeP team. Dr. Orobia announced that Phase 2 of the ECATeP training is set to launch in the next academic year, building on the success and insights of this initial run.
This pioneering CPD-accredited extension training not only showcases CMU’s leadership in higher education but also reinforces its mission to strengthen the professional growth of educators in the region. Truly, CMU continues to live up to as “The Academic Paradise of the South.” [Information from Dr. Orobia, College of Education]
