The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), through the Digital Innovation Center (DIC), successfully conducted a two-session training on alternative web-conferencing tools on March 17, 2026, at the Pidlaoan Hall, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, UPV Miagao Campus.
The activity was organized in anticipation of the university’s Zoom subscription ending on April 5 this year. The training sought to equip university personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively utilize Google Meet and Microsoft Teams as alternative platforms for virtual collaboration.
The activity was attended by university office and unit heads, administrative personnel, and technical staff representing various sectors of the institution. Dr. Cherry P. Anañasco, Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Administration, delivered the welcome remarks in the morning and the closing remarks in the afternoon session. Meanwhile, Asst. Prof. Rhea J. Subong-Espina provided the closing remarks for the morning session.
Dr. Añasco emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting its constituents throughout the transition. She affirmed that the administration will continue to provide guidance and assistance as new technologies are introduced, highlighting that the university will continue to provide the necessary support to help everyone adapt and keep pace with ongoing digital transformation initiatives.
The sessions featured discussions on fundamental topics, including an introduction to web-conferencing platforms, guidelines for proper online meeting etiquette, and important data privacy and security practices discussed by the DIC staff Janine Buenaflor, Senior Data Administrator, and Bea F. Gequinana, Senior Office Associate. In addition, Junie C. Paguntalan, Computer Maintenance Technologist III, conducted a live demonstration of the key features and functionalities of Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, providing participants with hands-on experience in navigating and utilizing the platforms effectively.
Through this initiative, the DIC aims to empower university personnel to effectively utilize web-conferencing platforms for meetings, coordination, webinars, livestreaming, training sessions, and academic support activities. The training also aspires to build confidence among participants in using these tools seamlessly in their daily work.
As UP Visayas continues to embrace digital innovation, activities such as this underscore its commitment to ensuring that its community remains adaptive, connected, and future-ready.
Written by Bea Gequinana, DIC
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