One exciting event to look forward to this year is the publication of the Cordillera 101 Workbook of the Project Cordillera HERITAGE. The acronym HERITAGE stands for Higher Education Regional Integration and Teaching of Appropriate, Genuine, and Exhaustive studies on Indigenous Peoples.

After securing board approval for the course offering and completing the course syllabus, authors from Benguet State University actively engaged in crafting a workbook through the framework of HERITAGE AIM (Advancement of Instructional Materials). The workbook was pioneered by Benguet State University and is meticulously designed to facilitate the generation, refinement, and augmentation of instructional materials for the Cordillera Heritage 101 course. Simultaneously, the team also developed a comprehensive source book to complement and enrich the course materials.

The Workbook for the Cordillera Heritage 101 initiative was collaboratively developed through a series of workshops involving authors from Benguet State University, who actively participated in all phases of its crating. Benguet State University authors, along with those from other Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), contributed to the workbook’s development through their engagement in workshops organized by State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and HEIs. The integration of Instructional Materials (AIM), Faculty Immersion and Training Services (FITS) and Tracking, Repository, and Acquisition of Documents for [Higher] Education System (TRADES) played an important role in making the Cordillera Heritage 101 initiative a reality. These  workshops took place at various locations and times, facilitating collaborative efforts among diverse educational institutions.

Set to be published in 2024. The Cordillera Heritage 101 workbook stands as a testament to BSU’s unwavering commitment to this collaborative endeavor. Crafted in unity with other HEIs, the workbook’s content reflects BSU authors leadership and dedication to ensuring the success of this groundbreaking publication, transcending institutional boundaries. Overall, the Cordillera Heritage 101 initiative represents a collaborative effort, combining AIM, FITS and TRADES, to enhance educational materials and services in the region.

As a background, the Cordillera HERITAGE project began with the issuance of CHED Memorandum Order no. 2., series of 2019. This directive underscored the imperative of incorporating Indigenous Peoples’ Studies into the relevant Higher Education Curriculum in the regional level. BSU, CHED-CAR, and other Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in the Cordillera region through a collaborative effort came-up with Cordillera HERITAGE 101. This initiative serves as a synergistic interpretation of the memorandum.

Here’s a look back at the activities of the project for the past years.

November 2021 – The impetus for a regional course dedicated to the Cordillera Region found its roots during the Project Cordillera HERITAGE online conference. BSU, represented by the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Social Science Faculty Members, played a central role in envisioning Cordillera HERITAGE 101 and designing a harmonized syllabus that guides the course. This marked a significant milestone aligned with BSU’s vision for a region-wide education that authentically resonates with the Cordillera context.

October 5-7, 2022 – The first regional Advancement of Instructional Materials workshop was held at the Gladiola Center in BSU. This marked the beginning of the Workbook development for Cordillera Heritage 101. In collaboration with BSU, CHED-CAR launched the first-phase workbook development for the Cordillera HERITAGE 101. The three-day activity aimed to develop an initial plan for a workbook specific to the planned Cordillera 101 course, intended to be included as one of the general subjects in the undergraduate program. Representatives from various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the region participated in the activity which was opened by CHED-CAR director Dr. Demetrio P. Anduyan Jr. and attended by the regional director of NCIP-CAR, Atty. Attanacio D. Addog, and BSU representative Atty. Andres Arnold Lampacan.

February 21-24, 2023 – In a gathering at the Ifugao State University, BSU authors along with other HEIs representatives finalized the outputs of the online conference. A crowning achievement was the unanimous approval of a unified regional syllabus for Cordillera Heritage 101 that was presented on July 13, 2022 during the Higher Educational Regional Summit at Mountain Province State Polytechnic College. Moreover, endorsements from the Presidents of HEIs, the office of Congressman Dalog, NEDA-CAR, and NCIP-CAR through a manifesto of support further solidified BSU’s leadership in offering Cordillera Heritage 101: History and Socio-cultural Heritage.

March – December 2023 - Different workshops and immersion activities were held including the 1^st  regional AIM workshop hosted by Benguet State University (BSU), 2^nd regional AIM workshop led by the Abra State of Institute of Science and Technology (ASIST), 1^st Provincial FITS by ASIST, 3^rd  Regional AIM by Ifugao State University (IFSU), 4^th  Regional AIM by Kalinga State University (KSU), 5^th  Regional AIM by Apayao State College (ASC), 2^nd  Provincial FITS ASC, the 1st Regional Faculty Immersion and Training Services (FITS) in the University of Baguio (UB), and the 6^th  Regional AIM hosted by IFSU.