The search for a UP Cebu chancellor

As a member of the faculty of the School of Management, I observed with much concern the search for the chancellor. I find the behavior of the factions in the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu to be short of my expectations.

The problem with me is that I expected a more rational behavior as we recommend who we think is fit to lead to lead us into the future.

How do we judge a candidate? Do we look at his/ her achievements in relation to what we, as individuals, gain? Do we look at our college or department and, seeing what it has become, attribute it solely to the concerned candidate? Or do we try to look at the bigger picture?

Does the performance of a candidate result in a better university as far as its mandate on education, research and extension is concerned?

I like to note that even with a good candidate, a community may stay less developed when its leaders refuse to see the opportunities to improve but rather stick to what things were before. It is also a folly to embrace the past when times have drastically changed.

We can easily see this in the diverse stages of development of the different municipalities, cities and even provinces in our country.

But I also like to say that in choosing a candidate, we should look more at what the future needs are. A “successful” executive may no longer continue to be successful given the current status of an organization.

The needs of the people, or their strengths, and the threats, the opportunities and the weaknesses of the organization may have changed. And this change of status may call for another leader with different qualities.

There is no guarantee that an incumbent will remain successful in the future.

What does UP Cebu need for the future? There are projects that were started during the incumbent’s term, and they still need to be completed. I believe that the incumbent is probably the best person to finish them.

I would also agree that our present chancellor did a terrific job of transforming UP Cebu. She was courageous to institute change when external factors mandated change. She was excellent in resource mobilization when funds were a big obstacle in moving forward.

But the transformation of UP Cebu is also of the past. From what I observe now, there is a big need to pacify all factions in UP Cebu and obtain cooperation from all of them. It is a tricky job, and good results may not be sustainable.

This is and always have been a tough job for any head of UP Cebu. My guess is that any chancellor appointed will have this as the greatest challenge in his/her term: forging a unified UP Cebu, with all colleges and administrative offices exhibiting synergies towards a common goal.

I think this is the gigantic task and responsibility of the Board of Regents, the body tasked to appoint the next chancellor. Sadly, the Board is so far away and what its members hear or know about UP Cebu could be clouded by those who make the greatest noise and not by those with the greatest sense.--Ernesto G. Yap