Evaluation of the environmental studies program of the University of the Philippines at Los Banos [College, Laguna, Philippines]

The contribution of the graduate program on environmental studies to natural resources management and human resources development have been substantial. After four years of operation of the M.S. [Masters of Science] degree and various training programs, the evaluation results indicate that the program plays a significant role in the development of inter-disciplinary and holistic approaches to the management of natural systems. In general, there is a sufficient level of satisfaction with the content and presentation of courses. The major disagreement arose from lack of coordination among course lectures, too many lectures in one class, lack of adequate library and other support facilities, and the intended "broadness" of the topics included in the courses. The course content is comprehensive. During the initial phases of the program, the core courses were offered by three leading units from the University. The entire program was placed under the Graduate School until a more permanent set-up was formed. The current administration of the program is handled by the Institute of Environmental Science and Management (IESAM) of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). However, an inter-college Management Committee continues to function as the program's policy-making body, including such aspects as fellowships, admissions, and curriculum development. Aside from the MSES degree, the program sponsors seminars and training modules, and conducts surveys of environmental education and training programs. For faculty development, the program offers post-doctoral training and support for curriculum development. The environmental studies program for 1983 provided the opportunity to respond directly to challenges posed by the degradation of our environment. First, it strengthened the role of agriculture, forestry and the natural sciences as core disciplines in ecology and environmental sciences. The multidisciplinary nature of courses and curriculum materials has also created an opportunity for integrating the social sciences in the mainstream disciplines of ecology