Tote Culture: “It’s the Tote that Counts”

Thames Admin August 15, 2020 Community 0

Tote Culture: It’s the Tote that Counts

by: Mary Jullien Resplandor, Thames Undergraduate Student

Tote Culture is an organization of students and creatives who are dedicated to showing the beauty of the Philippines, its culture, and its history by selling tote bags with designs based on the Filipino culture for a cause.

It was established as a part of Thames International’s Entrepreneurial Behavior Class during the Summer term of 2020 under the guidance of Miss Sheila Dingcong, professor of Entrepreneurial Behavior and Associate Dean of Thames International. The class was divided into groups whose goal was to create a project that could solve specific problems of micro and small entrepreneurs using Design Thinking. They had to implement a project to impactfully help those in need within a limited time frame.

Tote Culture consists of six members with different tasks different roles: Ivan Andrew Combalicer, Social Media Manager; Andree Luigie Lualhati; Public Relations Officer; Justine Dani Marcelino, Finance and Design team; Lance Kensley Rementina, Finance and Design team; Mary Jullien Resplandor, Design team; and Sharmaela Stephie Rosete, Head of Operations.

The Philippine education system was widely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Students are struggling with the sudden shift to the new environment of online learning. Many students do not have enough resources or access to the materials needed for online learning. That is why the members of Tote Culture came up with the idea to extend their help towards Filipino students who are struggling to cope with the new normal.

They chose organizations who share the same goal of helping Filipino students who are struggling with online classes. Tote culture was able to partner with Next Gen I.T., who launched a campaign called “Campaign F1 for Juan” which aims to help support young Filipino students with their virtual class requirements, and Project Wifi whose main goal is to help support students by providing pocket WiFi for those in need.

Starting up a business in the middle of a pandemic was quite a challenge for the Tote Culture team, but they fought through the challenges with the guidance of their professor and the school. “The process was hard and tiring but we kept on reminding ourselves why we do this—which is to help other students who can’t afford the tools needed for online learning,” says social media manager Ivan Combalicer.

Head of operations Stephie Rosete said, “It is one of the highlights of my quarantine life during the pandemic. I, myself is also a student who transitioned into online learning. As a student, I know the feeling of having a loss of connectivity while you’re having a presentation or that kind of anxiety when you can’t attend synchronous classes. I am grateful that I had a chance to create an organization wherein I was able to raise awareness and help those unfortunate students who don’t have the capacity to continue their education.”

“It was a unique experience and I can say that it really taught me a lot of lessons. It made me realize that even in the simplest ways, we can extend a helping hand and reach out to those who are in need,” design team member Jullien Resplandor said when asked about her experience.

What started as an idea turned into a part of a solution that was able to help and reach out to those who are in need. Tote Culture was able to donate 70% of its profit from selling tote bags to partner beneficiaries. It is proof that the smallest acts of kindness can go a long way. It truly is the tote that counts!

Tote Culture has been featured in Find Glocal.com! Read more about them at http://www.findglocal.com/PH/Makati/117264453369675/Tote-Culture or visit ToteCulturePH.

Thames International is committed to building a new order for the world by giving talented students and entrepreneurs the tools to thrive and lead the way in a world beset by rapid change. If you’re interested in augmenting your skills and making connections with some of the brightest minds in business education today, please take a look at our future-proof undergraduate and postgraduate programs

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Thames International SHS: The Start of Something New

Thames Admin August 8, 2020 News 0

Thames International Senior High School (TISHS): The Start of Something New

By: Carlo Rivera, Academic Coordinator

On July 8, 2020, Thames International launched its long-awaited foray into Senior High School (SHS) education. An audience of Thames Faculty and 52 participating students from 21 different schools bore witness. Newly appointed SHS Lead and Principal Manuel “Nonie” dela Fuente and Higher Ed Lead and Dean Sheila Dingcong greeted the assembly, while Academic Transformation Head Avonn Nova presented the new technologies to be used in the program. They will lead Thames International’s academic teams as we continue the digital transformation journey that began in 2018.

The pilot program consisted of a month of accelerated courses in English, Philosophy, and Mathematics. It made use of Google Classroom and was staffed by alumni of Akadasia’s Designing Engaging Online Learning Experiences (DEOLE) program. “Our sons are having a very productive and enjoyable experience because they find the teachers knowledgeable, friendly, and well-informed in the delivery of online instruction.”, says Alvin, parent of Thames SHS Advance Classes students.

The success of the pilot, in combination with the new insights from the Learning Enrichment Program, has allowed Thames to forge ahead with a new senior high school term beginning in August – ahead of the rest of the country. Another batch of the DEOLE is being mustered to bring more teachers into the program. A new FLEX2CREATE training workshop is being implemented by Thames as well to move veteran faculty from being content curators and deliverers to being content creators.

Undaunted by the changes wrought by the new normal, Thames International forges ahead beyond its original collegiate scope, recognizing that senior high school students need to be a part of our Novus Ordus.

Explore Thames International Senior High School to know more about the unique modular offering and discounted rates available anytime of the school year.

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Pillar for Pillar

Thames Admin August 6, 2020 News 0

Pillar for a Pillar

by: Amidala Mallari, Thames Undergraduate Student

As schools and universities shift to online learning, students are embattled by the challenge of quickly adapting. The changes brought about by the sudden and complete transition to online classes raise the concern of creating immense impacts on a student’s overall wellbeing. It is expected that the new learning modalities, which focus on asynchronous and self-paced study, will heighten the difficulty. This is especially true for law students; the study of law made stringent demands on aspiring law professionals even prior to the advent of virtual classes. To mitigate this, a two-part webinar series was hosted last July 30 and August 1, 2020 by the Legal Education Board, Philippines Association of Law Schools, and Thames International. This series was intended to equip the country’s future lawyers with the tools and mindsets necessary for online learning.

This alliance of institutions had previously provided virtual training for law professors, assisting them with adapting the basics of effective online teaching to the needs of their profession. The Online Learning Survival Guide for Law Students webinar followed up on this success with speakers who shared their passion for the topic, including Thames International President Joel Santos, Thames International School Counselor, Head of Student Affairs Emmanuel Santos, and Psychology Department Head of Singapore University of Social Sciences Doctor Emily Ortega. Watching them live were two thousand Filipino law students.

The webinar series was designed to empower them with positive learning mindsets and skills, as well as the best practices to remain motivated and maintain a healthy mental state in an online learning environment. All these efforts were part of the organizers’ initiative of assisting all academic stakeholders with the necessary techniques and adjustments regarding the changes 2020 has brought to education. In the end, the event garnered positive feedback from participants, who said that the webinar speakers were knowledgeable and engaging, making them feel that their worries and concerns were heard and addressed. The lectures themselves were a source of inspiration, boosting confidence and motivation, for which the participants were grateful. One participant even dubbed the webinar a “must-watch” for every law student.

One major learning from the webinar series is that in order to raise a generation of new leaders and pathfinders, academic institutions should ensure that their students are grounded by a learning environment that values not just one’s intellect, but also a student’s holistic growth and health. As law students traverse the rigorous world of law school, they deserve to be supported by academic institutions. The benefits are long-term, as these students will become the future’s protectors of justice and peace.

Thames is committed to nation-building through providing training for schools and other organizations that need help adjusting to our new normal. For inquiries and assistance, feel free to contact the school via inquire@thames.edu.ph.

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Educators for the Future

Thames Admin August 3, 2020 News 0

Educators for the Future

by: Amidala Mallari, Thames Undergraduate Student

In these changing times, it is not just students who need to adjust to new learning methodologies and technologies. Similarly, professors and educators need to be empowered with innovative modalities in order to share knowledge and success with learners despite the physical limitations imposed by quarantine. In light of this, Thames International partnered with the Legal Education Board, the Philippine Association of Law Schools, Edurescue, and Akadasia to address this need, and hosted a training webinar last July 2020 that assisted over a thousand Philippine law professors in the shift to online education.

The “Online Learning Survival Guide for Philippine Law School Professors” received positive feedback from its participants, who said that the program has given them the confidence and assurance for effective and productive sessions with their students, as well as the motivation to conquer anxiety in learning something new. Professor and participant Fe Simborio lauded the event, commenting that it provided a descriptive, friendly, and uncomplicated way of training, keeping their interest and enlivening their commitment to their profession. Another professor-participant Remelisa Moraleda likened the experience to a student’s driving class, and was an overall better mode than learning to drive on her own. For her, the transition to online learning, through the program, was doable despite the bumps, bruises, and even property damages it may entail.

At the end, the objective of the program hosts was successfully achieved, allowing law professors to learn so they could be effective educators in this challenging time. It was a reminder of the importance of addressing root needs in order to create healthy and prosperous growth for all. By reaching out to educators, one also helps the students, society, and the future.

Thames is committed to helping in nation-building through providing teacher training for schools and other organizations that need further help in adjusting to our new normal. For any inquiries on this matter, feel free to contact the school via inquire@thames.edu.ph.

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Thames International x SunStar: Parenting Tips for Online Learners Webinar Series

Thames Admin July 30, 2020 News 0

Thames International x SunStar: Parenting Tips for Online Learners Webinar Series

by: Nico Belasco, Thames Undergraduate Student

Thames International Business School, in Partnership with SunStar Cebu, put together a free Webinar Series titled Parenting Tips for Online Learners. This two day webinar, which took place on July 25, 2020 and July 29, 2020, aimed to equip parents with tips and tools to enhance their children’s online learning experiences.

The series focused on various aspects of parenting students in the new normal, covering topics such as mental health, cyber safety, learning environments, and technical setup. With a total of 300+ participants nationwide, it is safe to say that the talks were a success.

Day One was hosted by Thames International Alumnus, entrepreneur, and founder of Junior Preneur, Cherry S. Genato. She was joined by Thames International President and Co-Founder Joel Santos. The spotlight was on Michael Cu, a wellbeing coach and the Operations Director for CML Well-being and Psychological Services. Cu delivered an in-depth discussion on the importance of students’ mental health in the transition to online learning.

Acknowledging that mental health problems are on the rise worldwide, Michael went on to share how parents can better support their children as they deal with stress, anxiety, and nostalgia – all of which continue to play a detrimental role in education.

Afterwards, the floor was then taken by Thames International Entrepreneurship students Nikka Arciaga and Hannah Magdangal, who shared their tips for parents from the perspective of students. Nikka went into detail about how she overcomes mental health struggles, while Hannah touched on how students and parents alike must stay vigilant in cyber safety. As the speakers wrapped up day one, participants shared their gratitude in the comments section. One shared, “Thank you very much to all the speakers/lecturers and to THAMES The webinar is very informative and addresses the present scenario. Kudos to everyone!”

Day Two consisted of insightful discussions from Homeschool Coach and Author of Keep It Together, Frannie Daez, and DIY Dad for Online Learning Set-up, Heaven Torres. Frannie, an experienced homeschool mother, talked about the similarities between online learning and homeschooling, and shared tips on how to optimise students’ education by finding ways to make learning more interesting through fun activities and projects. She shared that students and parents being home can be beneficial relationship-wise, and how it opens up a whole new world of knowledge.

Heaven talked about the ins and outs of technical setup, and how unconventional methods can be a match for top of the line equipment. He shed light on internet connection, resourcefulness, and finding ways to make do with the gear that is on hand.

Frannie and Heaven were joined by Thames International communication arts students Denise Pascua and yours truly. I touched on maximising learning by creating an environment that benefits learners, while Denise spoke about time management and how to keep a level head by finding ways to do things that you enjoy.

Again, participants took to the comments section to share their thanks. One went so far as to say, “Amazed at how the students direct themselves with their goal setting and very impressed in how disciplined they are in attaining it.”

After two days of informative talks by subject matter experts, parents, and students, Thames International and SunStar achieved their goal of sharing knowledge on how parents can effectively help their children make the most of their online learning.

If you would like to partner in producing webinars related to online wellness or other parent-related topics, feel free to reach us at inquire@thames.edu.ph or inquire at +639992270787 or +639992269796.

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Business Continuity in the Covid Era

Thames Admin July 17, 2020 News 0

Webinar: Business Continuity in the Covid Era

By: Carlo Rivera, Academic Coordinator

The harsh realities of the global Covid pandemic have affected businesses across the board. None are untouched. The vast changes to the way people interact with the economy represent an existential threat to many businesses, especially the small, medium, and micro businesses so vital to the economy.

To address the growing alarm and offer a clear-eyed perspective on how companies can survive the challenges of the pandemic, Thames International held a webinar on Business Continuity in the Covid Era on July 10, 2020. The lead speaker was Richard Farr Course Leader at the University of Hull. Assisting him were panelists Edwin Africa, SVP & General Manager of Century Pacific Foods, and Tina Tan Santos, President of Suysing Corp. The introductory address was delivered by Thames Chancellor John Batten.

Parr delivered a sobering picture of the risks businesses must deal with during the pandemic. It is, as he said, “a terrible time of disruption.” For the first time, the supply chain is making the news as companies around the world scramble to compensate for their supply lines being cut off at the root. Parr spoke extensively on empty shelves, panic buying, game theory, and how the pandemic has exposed the limitations of globalization. Parties who have gamed the system to advantage inadvertently created a recipe for chaos. With huge disruptions going on all the time, cash is key, and businesses need to keep an eye on their liquidity. In addition, the world has major issues that were problems before Covid came along and remain pressing concerns.

Edwin Africa pointed out that planning is critical because “we are embroiled in the global supply chain.” Tina Tan Santos talked about stock allocation, and the importance of avoiding empty shelves. A lot of our processes, she said, need to be digitized so that business goes on even in crisis.

There is hope behind the bad news, though. Parr noted that Supply Chain Management professionals will be critical to the recovery – this is the time to pick up those skills. With that in mind, Thames International School President Joel Santos introduced a co-partnership between University of Hull and Thames for online master’s degree options.

If you’re interested in augmenting your skills and making connections with some of the brightest minds in business education today, please take a look at our future-proof undergraduate degree programs.

Lastly, the purpose of Thames International is to mold pathfinders that will drive positive social impact in this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. The Innovation and Creative Entrepreneurship (ICE) Program has always been in pursuit of this – helping freelancers, creative entrepreneurs, and professionals innovate solutions for a more sustainable business that make a positive impact on society. Explore the ICE Program here.

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Creative Industries in the New Normal

Thames Admin July 10, 2020 News 0

Webinar: Creative Industries in the New Normal

By: Carlo Rivera, Academic Coordinator

Thames International has always been an advocate of the creative industries, recently described by Arangkada Philippines as “the country’s next sunrise industry. On July 8, 2020, we hosted a webinar to address concerns regarding the future of this vital sector of our economy and culture. The discussion leader was Professor Clare Hearn of the University of Falmouth, UK. She is the Course Leader in the MA in Creative Events Management and Senior Lecturer for Business and Experience Design. Accompanying her were Philippine Creative Industry leaders Marlon Rivera, Pinky Amador, and Paolo Mercado.

Professor Hearn delivered a reassuring message, pointing out the many ways that the Creative Industries not only still have a place in the world, but the many ways it can expand to meet the challenges of the times. Creative education in particular, received much of the spotlight, with Hearn sharing the successes of online Event Management classes and other programs run by the University of Falmouth. Speaker Paolo Mercado reminded viewers: “Who better to inspire people to laugh and dream again than the creative sector?”

Afterwards, Thames International School President Joel Santos offered his perspective, saying “we have to move the discussion beyond the economic, to long-term and cultural impact.”

The hour-long webinar concluded with the launch of Thames International’s Online Masters degree through its co-partner universities in the United Kingdom.

The recording of this webinar can be viewed here.

The purpose of Thames International is to mold pathfinders that will drive positive social impact in this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. The Innovation and Creative Entrepreneurship (ICE) Program has always been in pursuit of this – helping freelancers, creative entrepreneurs, and professionals innovate solutions for a more sustainable business that make a positive impact on society. Explore the ICE Program here.

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Thames Faculty’s Rapid Response to the New Normal in Education

Thames Admin June 29, 2020 Community 0

Thames Faculty’s Rapid Response to the New Normal in Education

By: Carlo Rivera, Academic Coordinator

Thames International - Faculty Training - Google Classroom

Having been implementing Blended Learning in its classes since 2018, Thames International was able to rapidly transition to the new normal of Full Online Teaching when it started its Spring Term last March 2020. This academic term coincided with the start of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in NCR so to ensure the effectiveness of this transition, our faculty members honed their online teaching skills with a Designing Engaging Online Learning Experience (DEOLE) workshop early on in the lockdown in April-May, followed by an Admin Console Training and Google Classroom Training last June 27.

The DEOLE Training, facilitated by Akadasia Singapore, was designed for our faculty members to deepen their understanding of course design for online platforms. The training also developed their skills in using different technological tools to enhance their teaching interactions into full online. On the other hand, the succeeding Admin Console Training and Google Classroom Training, provided by Q Software Research Corporation, equipped its participants with the knowledge and skill set to effectively utilize classroom-based tools and techniques on their specific organizational needs.

The workshops have empowered our faculty to deliver content online with a forward-facing outlook. One insight that came out was that the online environment can in fact be a useful venue to develop essential skills among our learners in this current state of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Our Associate Dean, Ms. Sheila Lo Dingcong, shared: “Our lecturers’ retooling and upskilling were necessary to appropriately respond to the needs of our students for quality and relevant education that is delivered online. Learning by doing continues to be part of the process for our teachers to fully grasp the ropes in online teaching and learning. Together with our students, the Thames model of virtual education continuously evolves but remains grounded on the mission of leaving no student and teacher behind, in this time of the pandemic and beyond.”

On top of this, students report that their experiences online have been meaningful as well as educational. Thames Entrepreneurship student, Joe Sto Domingo, shared: “I appreciate my professors this term in understanding the unique challenges of online learning and adjusting to help students.” Truly, Thames has become one of the first few educational institutions in the country that effectively provided online learning in this time of pandemic. And in the spirit of “Bayanihan” Thames International continues to actively seek other educational institutions in the country that need training and development as regards online learning.

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Thames International and Globe Telecom Partner Up to Lead Research on Online Learning

Thames Admin June 15, 2020 News 0

Thames International and Globe Telecom Partner Up to Lead Research on Online Learning

by: Hannah Magdangal, Thames Undergraduate Student

The impact of COVID-19 has turned the world upside down. The emergence of the pandemic has taken a toll on everyone – we have all faced unexpected changes and had to make sudden major adjustments to our lives. Students have been greatly affected; most have struggled to cope with the demands of online learning. More so, the limitations imposed required a shift to a virtual format for learning institutions.

With the abrupt changes and rocketing levels of uncertainty, many students fear that their education may have to be put on an indefinite hold, with some even opting to take a gap year. In an effort to bridge this gap, Thames International, with the support of their project partner Globe Telecom, conducted an action research project on online learning effectiveness to Senior High School (SHS) students in the Philippines entitled Learning Enrichment Program (LEP), implemented from May 25 to June 6, 2020.

The LEP was a two-week-long project intended to test the effect of full online learning on the quality of the learning experiences of SHS students in the Philippines during the pandemic. This study implemented an online Learning Enrichment Program in six subjects for two weeks with the help of 156 senior high school student volunteers. The students were given an opportunity to learn from Thames lecturers, all trained in online teaching by Thames and Akadasia Singapore. Thames was able to observe the students and conduct surveys in order to gather information on the basic demographic of the participants, their technological capacities, learning preferences, and expectations of online learning.

The study results revealed that Senior High School students belong to a generation that is accustomed to the digital environment, have high technological skills and adaptability, and are able to learn effectively both independently and in groups. They desire connection with their peers with common interests and pursuits and are highly capable of creating change in society with their capacity to become creative problem solvers. While they desire to discover the world on their own, they still seek mentors for proper guidance.

As the educational system in the country transitions into an online format, all areas of both learning and teaching require exploration and experimentation in order to keep education effective for students. The results of the study call attention to the necessary factors for the provision of quality education and desired learning outcomes for students and lecturers. With these addressed, online learning can certainly fill the gaps imposed by social distancing requirements and the suspension of physical education, and allow for the preservation of students’ education.

The implementation of this program offers institutions with senior high school students a reliable basis for formulating policies and guidelines for online learning, and paves the way for a more inclusive and effective approach given the nature of learning in the new normal.

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Thames is proud to showcase the success of its first term of 100% online learning!

Thames Admin June 8, 2020 Community 0

Thames International is proud to showcase the success of its first term of 100% full online learning!

The volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of a world going through a fourth industrial revolution has only been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. But even as learners all over the world grind to a halt and take stock, Thames students continue to follow their dreams without delay.

Thames is a tightly knit technology-enabled community and adapted rapidly to the pandemic by leveraging the expertise of industry partners and our own pool of online savvy industry practitioners. Classes continued. Instead of anxiously pondering their fate, our students integrated risk assessment theses into their curricula and paid heed to their own self-care by joining our wellness webinars, workout programs, and art showcases.

Nine out of ten of our students say our online education is an effective alternative to face-to-face classes during the lockdown. Who are we to doubt them? After all, they’re the best.

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