CLE Reflections

 

        I.            INTRODUCTION

·         GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESSS

Global competitiveness can be understood as a process in which advanced levels of competitiveness are achieved at different levels, that is, at firm, regional and national levels. As such, competitiveness becomes global when it affects large parts of the world. Definitions of competitiveness move from a general perspective to more specific understanding at the firm and country levels. In doing so, those definitions capture the evolution of the competitiveness process from a micro to a macro level. There are several definitions of competitiveness that must be considered before building a particular understanding of global competitiveness.

 

·         About the Speaker.

General Manager of Hopkins International Partners and Consultant

​CTO at Southville International School and Colleges
Software Engineer - Short term at KBC Financial Products

 

·         About the Business.

Hopkins International Partners, Inc. is the sole authorized Philippine representative of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC). TOEIC® is a recognized global standard for measuring English language proficiency developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) of Princeton, New Jersey which is a private organization devoted to educational measurement and research in psychometrics and educational policy. Many of its well-known testing programs, such as the TOEFL® test, the SAT®, the GMAT®, and the GRE®, involve multiple choice test questions. TOEIC® is represented in at least 60 countries and accepted by respectable institutions such as the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) of the United States and the Health Professions Council (HPC) of the United Kingdom.

 

Hopkins International Partners, Inc. is a founding member of the Promoting English Proficiency (PEP) project which is a joint program of the Makati Business Club Philippines-U.S. Business Council and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines which aims to improve the level of proficiency in English among teachers, students, and the workforce through a three-point program that involves an information, awareness, and advocacy campaign.

 

      II.            LEARNINGS

·         Being able to communicate effectively is one of the most important life skills to learn. Communication is defined as transferring information to produce greater understanding. It can be done vocally (through verbal exchanges), through written media (books, websites, and magazines), visually (using graphs, charts, and maps) or non-verbally (body language, gestures, pitch of voice, and tone). All of these means of communication are essential Soft Skills that are vital for a successful Career.

    III.            SKILLS THAT CAN BE ENHANCCED

·         Digital skills have moved from ‘optional’ to ‘critical’ and need to be complemented with transversal ‘soft skills’ such as the ability to communicate effectively in both online and offline mediums. In developing countries, digital skills are also in high demand and greatly improve prospects for decent employment. They are linked to higher earning potential, and experts have predicted a growing number of jobs for people with advanced digital skills. Not only are there new jobs available, some of them are actually going unfilled, making the provision of advanced digital skills part of a solution to unemployment.

MODULE 2

I.                    INTRODUCTION

·         PAPEMELROTI: PAST AND PRESENT IN THE TIME OF PANDEMIC
No lack of education is an excuse; we should learn to do things on our own, be self-sufficient, and always be family oriented since no one will aid you if things go wrong except your family.

·         About the Speaker.

PATRICIA JOY (PATSY) ALEJANDRO PATERNO

The eldest of the five siblings, Patsy started the unique brown paper stationery line for papemelroti at a time when being environment-friendly was not as popular as it is now.

 

Today, she works full time for papemelroti, and continues to take care of the stationery line. A graduate of Interior Design from the University of the Philippines, Patsy describes herself as a frustrated artist because she wants to have more time for design but is often busy with more practical office work.

 

 

·         About the Business.

The Alejandros, a family of seven composed of Corit and Benny; and their children Patsy, Peggy, Meldy, Robert and Tina have worked together to build and grow Papemelroti, a 22-year-old novelty shop that prides itself with quality crafts. The business initially started as a small gift shop that later evolved into a novelty shop.

 

According to Corit, the success of Papemelroti is rooted to “having five children who do not give me headaches and a husband who understands me.” Her kids, who are all UP graduates, have their specific responsibilities in the business. Patsy, an Interior Design major, designs the paper products and takes care of most of the paperwork. An Architecture graduate, Peggy also designs and is in charge of the personnel. Business Administration major Meldy sees to it that the needs of the different outlets are met. Although Robert has his own business, he still makes time to design for the family business. Lastly, Tina, a Mass Communication graduate supervises the store’s design and layout and designs as well.

 

II.                  LEARNINGS

·         I’ve learned that family togetherness makes good business. The parents encouraged the children to have activities that centered on arts and crafts, making figurines and decoupage together, and as Patsy was growing up, she remembers giving expression to her artistic talents and creating something, anything that could be worth selling in their tiny gift store. This was also true for her four other siblings.

 

III.                SKILLS THAT CAN BE ENHANCED

·         Divide roles and responsibilities. While various family members may be qualified for similar tasks, duties should be divvied up to avoid conflicts. Big decisions can be made together, but a debate over each little move will bog the family business down.

·         Treat it like a business. A common pitfall in a family business is placing too much emphasis on “family” and not enough on “business.” The characteristics of a healthy business may not always be compatible with family harmony, so be ready to face those situations when they arise.

 

MODULE 3

I.                    INTRODUCTION

·         WORKING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE AND HANDLING TOUGH SITUATION.

Difficult people do exist at work. They come in every variety and no workplace is without them. How difficult a person is for you to deal with depends on your self-esteem, your self-confidence, and your professional courage at work. Dealing with difficult people is either easy or challenging for you depending on the type of difficult person and the situation you face.

 

 

Dealing with difficult people is easier when the person is just generally obnoxious or when the behavior affects more than one person. Dealing with them is much tougher when they are attacking you, stealthily criticizing you, gossiping about you, or undermining your professional contribution.

 

·         About the Speaker.

Dr. Rolando Palad

Program Head, College of Business and Accountancy at Our Lady of Fatima University

Antipolo Campus

 

II.                  LEARNINGS

·         I learned that these people are everywhere. No matter where you go, you can never hide from them. Sure, it might be possible to avoid the 1st one or two difficult people, but how about the 3rd, 5th, 10th person you encounter? Hiding isn't a permanent solution. What's more, in the context of work, it's usually difficult to avoid or hide from someone, unless you quit from a job totally. Well - I don't know about you, but it doesn't seem feasible to quit every time someone has an opposing view or is being difficult.

 

III.                SKILLS THAT CAN BE ENHANCED

·         Be calm. Losing your temper and flaring out at the other person typically isn't the best way to get him/her to collaborate with you. Unless you know that anger will trigger the person into action and you are consciously using it as a strategy to move him/her, it is better to assume a calm persona.

·         Understand the person's intentions. I'd like to believe that no one is difficult for the sake of being difficult. Even when it may seem that the person is just out to get you, there is always some underlying reason that is motivating them to act this way.

·         Build a rapport. With all the computers, emails and messaging systems, work sometimes turn into a mechanical process. Re-instill the human touch by connecting with your colleagues on a personal level. Go out with them for lunches or dinners. Get to know them as people, and not colleagues. Learn more about their hobbies, their family, their lives. Foster strong connections. These will go a long way in your work.

 

 

MODULE 4

I.                    INTRODUCTION

·         POSITIVE LEADERSHIP

Positive leadership behavior is a collection of actions taken by those in positions of power and influence to inspire and develop others through processes of empowerment, engagement, and collaborative work assignments. Positive leadership behavior promotes critical organizational goals like happiness, well-being, and awareness.

 

·         About the Speaker

Dr. Joanna Marie Uy-Santos, CPA

Program Head, College of Business and Accountancy, OLFU-QC

 

 

II.                  LEARNINGS

·         I've learned that in order to be a positive leader, we must always look for the bright side. We must ensure that everyone in our circle is energized because positive energy can spread. We must listen in order to be a positive leader. Learn to forgive and to be grateful at all times. A positive workplace would result from having positive relationships with other members. Employees may outperform the company's expectations simply because they work in a positive environment.

 

III.                SKILLS THAT CAN BE ENHANCED

·         Leadership and communication skills are two that can be improved. To be a positive leader, you must be able to communicate effectively with others. When you communicate, you don't just talk; you also listen. If you know how to communicate, you can be a leader. It can also assist you in making sound decisions. guiding others in the right direction Instilling positive energy in them.

 

MODULE 5

I.                    INTRODUCTION

·         INFORMATION LITERACY IN THE AGE OF FAKE NEWS

Lots of things you read online especially in your social media feeds may appear to be true, often is not. False information is news, stories or hoaxes created to deliberately misinform or deceive readers. Usually, these stories are created to either influence people’s views, push a political agenda or cause confusion and can often be a profitable business for online publishers. False information can deceive people by looking like trusted websites or using similar names and web addresses to reputable news organizations.

 

·         About the Speaker.

MR. MARLON JULIAN NOMBRADO

Co-Founder, Out of the Box Media Literacy Initiative

Senior Highschool Teacher, Benedictine International School

Freelance Graphic Designer, The reality of Aid Network

 

II.                  LEARNINGS

·         Mr. Nombrado spoke about Media Literacy. Simply put, media literacy is the ability to recognize various types of media and the messages they transmit. When we talk about media, we include print media such as newspapers, magazines, and posters, as well as theatrical presentations, tweets, and radio broadcasts. You'll be able to spot fake news, you'll have multiple sources, recognizing bias and honing multimedia abilities How the media evolves, and the effects of the media on the nation. We are shaping media in ourselves.

 

III.                SKILLS THAT CAN BE ENHANCED

My communication abilities, whether written, spoken, or listened to. You should be able to communicate your ideas flawlessly. The ability to be analytical while also conducting thorough research distinguishes one employee from the next. It demonstrates your commitment to being absolutely certain before providing an answer, as well as your determination and ability to consider numerous