Benchmarking, A Semantic birthing Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Network Building
From the words of the wise, freedom from ignorance begins from one’s recognition of his own. The growing recognition of every Higher Education Institution’s own limitation was originally the driving force behind the concept of benchmarking and for sometimes will remain its staple. However, as the practice is continuously proving to earn rewarding returns, both to the host and the visiting party, it semantically transcends into the higher and noble plane of camaraderie until such time that majority of the HEIs in the country has been bridged, interconnected, co-existing and healthily learning from one another. The dual gains of benchmarking are undeniably manifested in the cordial exchanges of ideas aimed at raising the bar of excellence but more than that, the implied gestures that both the host and the hosted mutually receive the “you got my back” assurance is certainly the winning point of the practice. From the vantage point of a visiting HEI, benchmarking is on the narrative of measuring the quality of its own construct/s by comparing it with other else’s possessing accepted standard/s. It equates that the criterion of the hosting institution is the visiting party’s point of reference in setting its own. On the other hand, it inspires the host to out-best no one but themselves. Raising the bar of excellence becomes a mutual objective minus the intention of outshining one another. Voicing out admiration for specific feats found worth-heralding from each other is gradually becoming the norm and pleasure of both. The benchmarking experience once actualized yield more than the anticipated gains. It is a practice that weave the knit among HEIs towards a stronger and unified national HEI congregation that celebrates differences yet respects boundaries. The recent visit of the delegation from Bulacan State University (BulSU) headed by Dr. Ruben E. Borja II, Professor, together with seven BulSu faculty members to the Central Luzon State University particulary at the Distance, Open and Transnational University (DOT-Uni) on February 16 2023 is an affirmation of the winning formula of benchmarking. The exchange of ideas, comparing of notes and getting to know each team member are part and parcel of the benchmarking activity. In between giggles and contagious laughter, the learnings were well-noted but the promise and the anticipation of fruitful linkages sealed with new bonds of friendship and camaraderie brought about by having similar institutional functions lighted up each other’s ardor for excellence. ERFiegalan, MCMFernando.
