New system to link UP campuses

THE University of the Philippines (UP) first earned its name as one of the country's prime universities for academic excellence. Now, it is taking its path towards becoming a more unified institution through the use of information and communication technology (ICT).

UP launched on Wednesday in Davao City its latest project eUP, a new system that will link all the university's campuses across the country through a common database, with the aim to achieving more efficient administrative processes.

The eUP is a three-year plan that envisions a unified UP system where operational efficiency is achieved through digital exchange of information, sharing of data, and online processing of transaction with a total project cost of P750 million.

"The strategic goal of eUP is to achieve seamless process for higher levels of productivity and sound decision making based on accurate and real time information," UP vice president for development Elvira Zamora said during the Club 888 Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao on Wednesday.

She said the new system will protrude UP's thrust not only on academic but also on its operational excellence.

"Academic excellence cannot be achieved without enabling operational excellence," Zamora said.

A briefer said eUP will answer all operational challenges that beset the university for a long time. These include processing of academic transactions, data sharing, data collection, and data management, report generation and reliable interconnection.

She said administrators of the university are expecting better performance indicators such as simplified operations, improved efficiency, optimal utilization of ICT resources, increased productivity, extensive sharing of information, increased savings/ revenues, and improved decision making upon implementation of the eUP.

This system also brings transactions of students, faculty, staff, and alumni done online. She added another reason for embarking on this high-end project is that they want all decisions to be based on timely and accurate data.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jimmy Caro, assistant vice president for development of UP systems, said eUP involves mainly the life cycle of its clients, the students, from admission to becoming an alumni.

He said eUP will allow online student admission, online enrolment, and online viewing of grades. The alumni, on the other hand, will continue to receive newsletters and updates from the university.

Zamora added that distance is no longer a barrier in the dissemination of useful educational resources, as one UP campus will be given easy access to the educational materials of another campus through this linkage.

"We can share resources, for example, through video conferences, allowing exchange of information and knowledge better," she said.

Zamora said the implementation of eUP will also mark the beginning of less physical transactions among all its stakeholders including students, alumni, faculties and researchers.