In search for a UP Cebu chancellor

As a faculty of the School of Management, I observe with much concern how the search for the chancellor has become.  I found the behavior of the different factions that make up the 8th constituent university of the University of the Philippines, to be short of expectations.  The problem with me is that I had expected a more rational behavior as we recommend for one who is more appropriate to lead our UP Cebu into the future.  

How do we judge a candidate?  Do we look at his/her achievements in relation to how we as individuals are or had gained? Do we look into our college or department and seeing how it has become on account of the candidate, attribute the latter for its current status? Or do we try to look at the bigger picture?  Does the performance of the candidate result in a better university, in its mandate on education, research, and extension?   

I like to note that even with a good candidate, a community may stay less developed when its leaders refused to see the opportunities to improve but rather to stick to what they were before, maybe expecting the current leadership to behave by their rules.  It is also folly to embrace a past when times have drastically changed.  We can easily see this in the diverse stages of development in the different municipalities, cities and even provinces in our country.  

But I also like to say that in choosing a candidate, we should look most on 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, the threats, 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 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 as external factors mandated changes.  She was excellent in resource mobilization when funds are always a big obstacle to move forward.   But the transformation of UP Cebu is also of the past.  From what I observe now, there is a big need to pacify and obtain all cooperation from all factions of UP Cebu.  It is a tricky job, and good results may not be sustainable.  This is and always had 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 -- 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 who is the body to appoint the next chancellor.  It is indeed sad that the Board is just so far away, and what the members hear or know about UP Cebu could be clouded by those with the greatest of noise, and not of the greatest of sense.

Ernesto G. Yap