The University of the Philippines will conduct a system-wide computerization and capacity-building under the banner 'e-UP'. This was announced by Alfredo Pascual, the President of the University of the Philippines, during his official investiture last September 16, 2011.   The project is said to integrate all the existing computerization projects in the seven UP campuses and will address mainly information management from the university’s financial systems to human capital requirements, legal systems, and academic and research issues. 

 “UP Assistant Vice President for Development, Jaime Caro said that they would want to reduce the amount of time to process new employees, decrease paperwork, improve business practice, monitor procurement processes and track assets.  He further added that they would want to get immediate data on individual progress and achievements of the teachers and students,” Alexander Villafania, in loQal.ph, wrote. 

One could say that the project has already started, considering that preparations are already being made in UP Cebu.  “The good thing about this is that even if the project will not push through, the preparations made will enable UP Cebu to have its own system that will greatly help its operations,” Jason Nieva, UP Cebu College professor, said. 

The e-UP project is not limited to upgrading student services only.  The project is aimed at different facets.  That is, every constituent of UP Cebu, from the students to the faculty to the staff, will benefit greatly from it. “One of the comments that I often hear when I started teaching in UP is how difficult it is for students to cross-enroll,” Nieva said. “With e-UP there will be less forms to fill in for cross-enrollees,” he further added. 

Dr. Ritchelita Galapate, officer-in-charge Dean’s office of UP Cebu, has constituted a committee to start making the preparations so that when the project will be in full operation soon, UP Cebu will be ready by then.  Acting as co-chairperson is Professor Nieva.  The other members are Jedaiah Joel Lumagbas, Dr. Mary Gretchen Chaves, Dr. Patricia Anne Nazareno, Prof. Jerry Hervacio Salvador, Van Owen Pelayo, Rebecca Bayawa, Virgilio Nuñez, and Engineer Albert Bascon. 

"Although, there is no official date yet for the launching of e-UP, preparations however with their respective objectives have been planned out on an annual basis,” Nieva said.  Even if it will take years, the committee will continue to meet and discuss important issues that may come up that may be beneficial to the project’s advantage.  

(Contributed by Jamille Lea – Ann C. Azanza and Lara Marga S. Lad, 3rd yr. Mass Communication students, UP Cebu)