At the expansive grounds of Eastern Visayas State University- Ormoc Campus, one stands out as a shining example of transformative leadership. With a career spanning borders and a passion for excellence ingrained in his every endeavor, the Campus Director, Dr. Jeffry V. Ocay’s journey epitomizes a commitment to advancing education and nurturing leaders of tomorrow.
The only thing that can compare to Dr. Ocay’s academic excellence is his everlasting commitment to the profession of teaching. He is a living example of the pursuit of knowledge and academic success, having completed two bachelor’s degrees, two master’s degrees, and a distinguished doctorate from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. His broad background in educational administration, which includes positions as Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Director of the Office of Curriculum and Instruction, highlights his aptitude for strategic vision and effective leadership.
Despite his extensive duties as EVSU-OC’s Campus Director, Dr. Ocay is still looking for ways to advance his career. His recent admission to the 2024-2025 round of the International Deans’ Course Southeast Asia symbolizes not just a personal milestone but also a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence. With a history rooted in research and development, he considers his participation in the International Deans’ Course Southeast Asia 2024-2025 as a critical milestone in his trajectory.
The International Deans’ Course (IDC), one of the flagship programs of the Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES), offers training in higher education management in an international context. DIES is jointly coordinated with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Admission to the course is very competitive; in fact, it was reported that over a thousand scholars from higher education institutions (HEIs) in Southeast competed for this year’s round and only thirty (30) made it. These thirty newly elected deans, vice-deans, and department heads from universities throughout Southeast Asia—specifically, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam—are brought together by this carefully designed course, which is expected to provide participants with the tools necessary to successfully navigate the challenges of higher education leadership.
“The course starts in June 2024 with Part I held on-site in Germany which aims to introduce important new concepts and tools in higher education management. The methodology will be strictly practice oriented and the use of case studies offers a forum to reflect on professional experiences of the course attendees. Thus, active participation will be necessary and the participants are expected to reflect on their respective working environment and to develop a Project Action Plan (PAP) at the end of this first contact phase. These PAPs should address individual reform projects which all participants are asked to implement during various stages of the course. The milestones of the PAPs will be further discussed during the intermediate virtual workshop (Part II). Finally, Part III offers the opportunity to assess the progress of the projects and to discuss lessons learnt among the group. Both, Part II and III include additional sessions on relevant higher education management topics.”
Part I: ten days seminar in Osnabrück and Berlin, Germany from June 24th to July 05th, 2024
Part II: five days online seminar from November 4th to 8th, 2024
Part III: five days seminar in Thailand from February 3rd to 7th, 2025
Dr. Ocay emphasized during the application process how his involvement in previous DAAD-DIES projects, such as DIES ProGRANT and DIES UNILEAD, had improved his knowledge in strategic leadership, project management, and human resource management. The International Deans’ Course, which covers strategic faculty management, financial stewardship, quality assurance, and leadership dynamics, is seen by Dr. Ocay as a critical turning point in his professional development. In Dr. Ocay’s view, this journey symbolizes more than just professional growth; it also reflects a dedication to quality and innovation in leadership in higher education. With a broad curriculum created to meet the changing demands of higher education, Dr. Ocay sees this course serving as a pillar in his leadership development, taking him to new levels of achievement and influence.
Dr. Ocay is giddy with enthusiasm as he gets ready to start this life-changing adventure. He understands how important it is to work together and share knowledge in order to shape higher education in Southeast Asia and beyond. Dr. Ocay is well-positioned to leave a lasting impression on the area of education by his persistent dedication and desire for excellence, further solidifying his status as a visionary leader and change agent.
For Dr. Ocay, accepting this invitation represents more than simply a work opportunity; it’s a way to explore new avenues and increase his influence in higher education. He hopes to gain knowledge in critical areas like as quality assurance, financial stewardship, and strategic faculty management through intensive sessions in Germany, online seminars, and a concluding experience in Vietnam. Equipped with this novel understanding, Dr. Ocay hopes to stimulate constructive transformation both inside and outside of EVSU-OC, strengthening the school’s dedication to innovation and quality.
With great anticipation for the priceless contributions Dr. Ocay will make upon his return to campus, EVSU stands firm in its support of him as he sets off on this revolutionary journey. His involvement highlights EVSU’s mission of developing competent leaders and promoting a culture of continuous improvement, as well as his commitment to personal and professional development.
