Building smart campuses in public universities

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Congress passed the Bayanihan 2 law that allocated P3 billion for the Smart Campus Project to be implemented in state universities and colleges through the Commission on Higher Education.

The rationale for this appropriation was straightforward. Most higher education institutions (HEIs) were caught off guard when COVID-19 led to the cancellation of in-person classes, and CHED mandated a transition to flexible learning to maintain educational continuity.

Except for the top universities that had already invested in technology and online learning, most HEIs scrambled to develop learning management systems, train faculty to teach online and upgrade their internet connectivity and campus facilities.

Small colleges and universities in rural areas and island provinces were the hardest hit and had the greatest difficulty transitioning to flexible learning.

As CHED chairman, I was fully aware of this crisis through my Zoom meetings with SUC presidents. I strongly lobbied for support for higher education through the IATF and Congress, particularly to assist HEIs in implementing flexible learning.

And so, in October 2020, Bayanihan 2 allocated P3 billion to CHED to assist SUCs through the Smart Campus Project.

But there were major problems. One, the use of the fund expired on Dec. 31, 2020 and two, there was no clear definition of what a “Smart Campus” is.

The first problem was solved by Congress, which extended the fund’s use through June 30, 2021.

The second problem was more challenging. We had to bring in experts to help define the elements and development stages of creating a smart campus, and then we opened the call for proposals from SUCs.

I, together with Commissioner Perfecto Alibin, Mapua University president Rey Vea and industry experts, vetted nearly 100 proposals to meet the June deadline.

Eighty-nine SUC projects received funding (averaging P25 million each) to develop learning management systems, install fiber optics on campuses, improve existing connectivity and build computer and audio-visual labs to create content for online learning.

Given the funding limitations (there are 114 SUCs with nearly 300 campuses nationwide), these projects could only lay the foundation for a “smart campus,” not build fully smart campuses.

CHED also had to deal with the Commission on Audit (COA), which insisted that any unused funds as of June 30, 2021, be returned, even though DBM had already issued a memorandum stating that CHED funds downloaded to SUCs should be spent in accordance with the approved project documents.

As a result of these difficulties, I told Congress in 2022 that it would be best to allocate all subsequent funding for “smart campuses” directly to SUCs.

What has happened since then?

It appears that a small island university, Marinduque State University (MarSU), has risen to the challenge and moved forward with building a smart campus.

In September 2024, I joined MarSU president Dodie Zulueta at the launch of their Smart Campus Project, which was held alongside the conferment of university status and the investiture of the university president.

Building upon its earlier P15-million CHED grant, MarSU developed a comprehensive ICT modernization proposal and secured P950 million in congressional funding.

The smart campus project established high-speed internet connectivity across the entire campus, along with digital classrooms and laboratories. The institution’s business processes and online systems are now more streamlined, allowing students to access resources and collaborate easily, whether they are on campus or in remote barangays. Employees utilize facial recognition for attendance and can access employee records through mobile and web portals, simplifying administrative transactions.

According to SMART Campus project director Jandusay, while most tertiary institutions rely on third-party cloud service providers, MarSU has set up its own data center. This allows the university to tailor platforms like its learning management system. It also enables faster data access and ensures continuous system operation during outages, a common issue with third-party providers.

MarSU becomes the first public university in the MIMAROPA Region to establish a Tier-2 data center, connecting all campuses via an underground fiber backbone as the primary communication link and implementing multiple layers of protection to ensure reliable connectivity. This milestone marks a significant step forward in Marinduque’s technological advancement, improving educational and administrative quality and establishing the university as a pioneer in academic innovation.

University officials assert that the Smart Campus Project is more than just a technological upgrade; it is a strategic response to changing educational needs. President Zulueta continues to remind students of the potential they possess as products of Marinduque, saying, “We may come from a small island, but we are not small people.”

MarSU students are the main beneficiaries of these technological advances, gaining access to learning tools, research platforms and digital literacy training. Additionally, these improvements streamline enrollment, grading and research management processes, helping to reduce barriers faced by students in rural areas.

What was once exclusive to big universities in Metro Manila is now gradually being made available to students, faculty and staff at the MarSU.

MarSU’s journey sends a strong message: building a smart campus is possible when university leaders and the academic community collaborate to think big, develop feasible proposals and implement projects effectively.

From the shores of Marinduque, MarSU is building a smart future, one student at a time.

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