Alluyon: BSU’s expression of commitment of it’s Volunteer service program

Having said this, with the different Extension Coordinators from the different academic units coming together, the meeting also provided updates on the extension activities of the university including ISO forms that are being proposed for use in any extension engagements. This is to ‘standardize’ documentation and operation of the University. The meeting also aimed to level off on the University Extension agenda as well as to deliberate on new extension directions, to include the adoption of the alluyon, or mutual labor exchange. Using the Filipino bayanihan, in this case the concept of alluyon as a cultural practice, this has the aim of framing explicitly the commitment to ‘volunteer service’ – both as a strategy and a component of the University extension program. As outlined by Ruth S. Batani, the new Director of the Office of the University Extension Services, alluyon will be an innovation to the ongoing extension efforts of skills and knowledge sharing contextualized in the present day engagements. Aside from the seven point agenda called ‘HERALDS’ (Holistic entrepreneurship, Education & information trading, Responsive technology, Advocacy, Linkage, Delivery and Social resiliency) and the Technology Innovation Menu or TIM-BSU that focuses on technotransfer to clientele communities, alluyon will cover the voluntary extension activities of the University. While the four divisions under the OES organizational structure, namely ; Training and Outreach Division, Technology Diffusion and Commercialization Division, Technology Packaging and Information Dissemination Division, and Monitoring and Evaluation Division, carry the assumption of ‘volunteer service’ – by explicitly including alluyon both as a strategy and a distinct component, this will ensure a much more coordinated and spelled out commitment to ‘volunteer service.’ In BSU as an academic institution, alluyon is once again being invoked to express commitment for voluntary work in the communities it is serving.