GEAR UP Participants Strengthen Commitment to Academic and Service Excellence

The Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) successfully conducted the three-day L&D program - Growth, Excellence, and Attribute Refinement for UP Diliman (GEAR UP) targeting Core Competency 1: Embracing Academic and Service Excellence (Basic Proficiency Level) on 19, 20, and 26 May 2026. The learning intervention brought together 47 University personnel to deepen their understanding of the University’s mission, values, organizational structure, and standards of public service.

The program opened with remarks from Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II, emphasizing the shared responsibility of all University personnel to serve with competence, integrity, and dedication regardless of position or office assignment. HRDO Deputy Director Rogelio T. Estrada, Jr. also encouraged the participants to actively engage in discussions, reflections, and collaborative activities throughout the training.

Facilitated by Ms. Leizel P. Lectura on the first day, the program focused on helping participants appreciate their role within the University system. Through interactive discussions and group activities, participants explored the University’s core values of Dangal at Husay, reflected on the significance of the University’s mandate as a public service institution, and examined how individual offices contribute to the fulfillment of academic leadership, research, public service, and nation-building goals.

A series of collaborative exercises enabled participants to analyze the University’s organizational structure and identify how their respective units support institutional mandates. Through guided reflection, participants recognized the importance of their work in advancing the University’s mission and ensuring the delivery of quality services to students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. The day concluded with individual commitments toward professional growth and the continued embodiment of excellence in public service.

On the second day, Asst. Prof. Marvin Luis C. Sabado facilitated discussions on customer service excellence and professionalism in the workplace. Participants examined common client inquiries, concerns, complaints, and commendations encountered in their offices and identified appropriate strategies for responding with empathy, professionalism, and accountability.

Through case discussions, paired activities, and group presentations, participants reflected on the realities of frontline public service and explored ways to improve responsiveness, communication, and client satisfaction. The sessions emphasized the role of every employee as a facilitator of quality service and highlighted the importance of maintaining professionalism even in challenging situations.

Throughout the program, participants demonstrated active engagement by sharing workplace experiences, discussing operational challenges, and identifying opportunities for process improvement. The training reinforced the connection between individual performance and institutional success, reminding participants that the University’s mission is advanced not only through its systems and structures but also through the dedication and excellence of its people.

As part of the program’s continuing application component, participants were introduced to a capstone project that they presented on the third day of the training. This allowed them to translate their learnings to creative and tangible outputs that they can use to promote service with honor and excellence in their respective units. Through this process, the University aims to strengthen a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and service excellence.

The program’s impact was reflected in the insights shared by its most outstanding participant, Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts’ Mark Joseph N. Mirasol, who noted that the training deepened participants’ understanding of client service and the role of feedback in improving workplace performance. According to Mirasol, the sessions provided greater clarity on the purpose and proper interpretation of feedback forms, enabling participants to better appreciate client concerns and use feedback as a tool for continuous improvement. Through the knowledge and skills gained from the program, participants felt more prepared to respond to clients with greater competence, respect, and a stronger commitment to the University values of Dangal and Husay.

The GEAR UP program serves as an important platform for developing employees who embody the University’s core values and are committed to delivering academic and service excellence in support of the University’s mandate of serving the nation.