At the 2023 NCR-based DOST-SEI Scholars’ Exit Conference, Carl Jason Guevarra, a DOST scholar and a graduating BS Psychology student from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, delivered a speech and reminded existing and new scholars who attended the event to fulfill their scholarship obligation.
“We are given the privilege to become iskolar ng bayan, but it also comes with the great responsibility and obligation to flourish beyond what is given to us by the scholarship, to give back even beyond what was given to us. And this includes serving the nation and future generations.”
Aiming to highlight the commitment of future leaders in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) conducted the exit conference last June 21 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, which brought together around 1,600 DOST scholars from the National Capital Region (NCR).
The main rationale of the exit conference has been to refresh scholar-graduates of their return service agreement after graduation, challenging them to become future Filipino STEM leaders—creating a significant and meaningful impact not only in their own communities, but in the whole country.
Terms and policies for scholarships
Ma. Nerissa Nicolas of the DOST-SEI Scholarship Division discussed the terms and policies for the various scholarships: RA 7687, Merit, and RA 10196. Meanwhile, Charilyn Joy Layus, also from the Institute’s Scholarship Division, introduced the various DOST-SEI local and foreign graduate scholarship programs which the scholars could avail of should they pursue post-graduate studies.
DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette T. Biyo expressed her heartfelt congratulations to the new batch of scholar-graduates, and encouraged them to take an active role in ensuring the nation’s progress. She hailed the scholars’ success and reminded them of their capacity to uplift the lives of Filipinos.
Similarly, DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum, in his virtual message, reminded the scholar-graduates of their commitment to serve the nation. He urged them to use their expertise to contribute to nation-building and be of service to the people.
Tracer for existing and new scholars
Introducing the institute’s Tracer (Tracking Actual Career Experience Report) study, Dr. Randolf S. Sasota, DOST-SEI Supervising Science Research Specialist, highlighted the significance of monitoring the career movement of DOST scholars and assessing the impact of the scholarship programs to individual progress and national and/or international development.
Also gracing the event were 2009 Balik Scientist Dr. Rigoberto Advincula, University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP Nismed) Director Dr. Sheryl Lyn Monterola, and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Senior Labor & Employment Officer Ryan Roberto Delos Reyes, who all shared their inspiring journeys, invaluable insights, and motivations on how to venture successfully in S&T careers.
The exit conference also became a venue for preparing the students for their job applications. Dr. Carmelita Pabiton, a Registered Guidance Counselor, provided the scholars tips on how to overcome job search anxiety. Meanwhile, Ruby Chanda Jetomo, Assistant Chief of the Department of Education (DepEd), discussed their hiring arrangements for RA 10612 and RA 7687 scholar-graduates.
All five encouraged the scholars to use the skills and knowledge they have gained from their academic journey to help contribute to the nation’s development and emphasized their duty to serve the country well.
The future scholar-graduates were glad to have attended the conference, as they picked up lessons that would prove beneficial in their journeys. They echoed how the talks answered their inquiries and enlightened them about the true essence of being an “Iskolar ng Bayan para sa Agham (scholar of the nation for the sciences)”.
Unity and collaboration among existing and new scholars
Russel Toribio, a BS Civil Engineering student and one of the attending DOST scholars from UP Manila, emphasized how the conference has taught them about their duty to collaborate and unite with the country’s brains of S&T.
“The value of collaboration, especially in the S&T field, is important in the sense that not one mind holds all the ideas. What leads to success and progress is the diversity of ideas generated by many minds,” Toribio said.
Concluding the 2023 NCR-based DOST-SEI Scholars’ Exit Conference was Peter Gerry Gavina, Chief Science Research Specialist of DOST-SEI’s Scholarship Division, who congratulated and praised the scholars for their perseverance, consistency, and dedication in being the best S&T scholars of their time.
Gavina expressed hope that the talks would ignite in the scholars the desire to serve the country and assured that the institute would continue rooting for them, while also highlighting the institute’s various graduate scholarship offerings should they decide to level up their science education.
Other DOST regional offices have also started conducting similar exit conferences for their scholars in the regions. (Story and photo courtesy of DOST-SEI Media Relations)