In an era defined by rapid technological shifts and global uncertainty, the Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) officially launched the University Futures Masterclass today, February 18, 2026. Held at the Rafaela Events Place, Balud, Masbate, the intensive training program aims to equip academic leaders with the futures thinking tools necessary to navigate the volatile VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) landscape of higher education.
The program commenced with an inspiring opening ceremony. Dr. Rodolfo B. Burac Jr., Vice President for Research, Extension, and Innovation, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing that the masterclass is not merely a seminar but a strategic necessity. He underscored the college’s commitment to fostering a culture of research and innovation that is proactively aligned with future job markets and global trends.
Following the opening, the Masterclass received high-level endorsements through recorded messages from Senator Pia S. Cayetano and Senator Win Gatchalian, both long-standing advocates for futures thinking in the Philippine legislature.
DEBESMSCAT President Dr. Arnel B. Millesca delivered a message of support, affirming the college administration’s commitment to embedding foresight-driven strategies into institutional development and academic programming. He stressed that cultivating a forward-looking mindset among educators is essential to sustaining innovation and delivering quality education in a rapidly changing world.
The masterclass is being facilitated by experts from the Philippine Futures Thinking Society and the Center for Leadership, Communication, and Governance, Inc., with sessions led by futures strategist Dr. Reginald G. Ugaddan and education leader Dr. Ruperto S. Sangalang.
Participants engaged in intensive discussions and workshops introducing foresight methodologies, including environmental scanning and the STEEP framework, an analytical tool that examines social, technological, economic, environmental, and political drivers of change. Through these activities, participants were trained to identify emerging signals and translate them into actionable institutional strategies.
The University Futures Masterclass builds on earlier regional futures initiatives and aims to produce concrete project proposals that will define DEBESMSCAT’s priority futures agenda. These outputs are expected to guide research directions, curriculum innovation, and community engagement, positioning the college as a proactive contributor to regional and national development.
The masterclass is a collaborative effort endorsed by the PhilFutures and the CLCGi. It serves as a successor to the Regional Futures Consortium Workshop, pushing the boundaries of how Philippine state colleges and universities contribute to national development.
As the masterclass continues from February 19 to 20, participants are expected to produce project proposals that will serve as the priority futures agenda for their respective departments, ensuring that DEBESMSCAT remains at the vanguard of change in the Province of Masbate, the Bicol Region, and beyond.
Ladies and gentlemen,
