SEARCA's Graduate Scholars awarded Best in Academic Performance in the LITE Program

4 December 2018

Key officials from UPLB and invited guests present during the program were Dr. Felino Lansigan (seated second row, fourth), CAS Dean and Manager of LITE Program; Dr. Mabini Dizon (seated right most), Coordinator of the LITE Program; Prof. Kristine Adalla (seated, second) and Dr. Shiela Simat (seated, third), Academic Tutors; and Ms. Mary Grace A. Aquino, SEARCA Programme Specialist (seated, first).

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA, Philippines – Fourteen graduate students have been awarded certificates of completion during the closing program of the Language Instruction Towards Excellence (LITE) Program held on 3 December 2018 at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), University of the Philippine Los Baños (UPLB). Since 1996, the UPLB-CAS LITE Program, through the Intensive English Course for International Graduate Students (IEIGS), has been helping UPLB international graduate students attain the required linguistic competency to hurdle academic life in the university.

Mr. Zaw Win Kyaw, a SEARCA scholar from Myanmar, was awarded Best in Grammar and Academic Writing. He also received the Overall Best Academic Performance award. Mr. Xisto Martins, also a SEARCA scholar from Timor-Leste, was awarded Best in Pronunciation Improvement and Oral Presentation. All seven SEARCA scholars who participated in the course passed and received their certificates.

Participants learned Pronunciation Improvement and Oral Presentation (40 hours), Reading and Vocabulary Enrichment (40 hours), Grammar (30 hours), and Academic Writing (40 hours) through the modules in this intensive course. Other activities done in this course are cultural visits, practical tests, interview sessions, and presentations. Key officials from UPLB and invited guests present during the program were Dr. Felino Lansigan, CAS Dean and Manager of LITE Program; Dr. Mabini Dizon, Coordinator of the LITE Program; Prof. Kristine Adalla and Dr. Shiela Simat, Academic Tutors; Dr. Mark Arboleda, Associate Dean of the Graduate School; and Ms. Mary Grace A. Aquino, SEARCA Programme Specialist.

The program ended with the presentation of the different native food from the participants' respective countries. (Mary Grace A. Aquino)

Speech Prof. Kristine Adalla (left) and CAS Dean and LITE Manager Dr. Felino Lansigan (right-most) handed the certificates to Mr. Zaw Win Kyaw as he received his certificate, with his wife and three-year old son (center).

Mr. Xisto Martins (center) with Prof. Kristine Adalla and Dr. Felino Lansigan