The “weaving of worthiness” continues? alternative futures for a Philippine state university to 2051

Peñaranda, Joedel O (2025) The “weaving of worthiness” continues? alternative futures for a Philippine state university to 2051. Open Access Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 9 (2). 046-051. ISSN 2783-0268

This study stress-tests a Philippine State University’s Weaving of Worthiness agenda by exploring four alternative futures to 2051. During a two-day foresight masterclass, 31 senior leaders applied Scenarios Method to map 62 change drivers, prioritize them on an impact-versus-uncertainty matrix, and build a 2 × 2 scenario set. The resulting narratives are: #WoWMali (collapse under deep budget cuts and super-typhoons), #WoWoWin (continuation toward SUC-V status and net-zero smart campuses), #WoWGanern? (transformative wildcards from zombie pathogens to Nobel prizes) and #WoWBiPSU (discipline-oriented resilience with anticipatory governance). Cross-scenario analysis flags mono-source funding and weak disaster-risk systems as chronic vulnerabilities, while highlighting opportunities in space-related research and digital-twin learning. Recommended “no-regrets” moves include diversifying revenue, green-hardening infrastructure, and institutionalizing five-year foresight cycles with signpost monitoring. The approach offers a cost-efficient template for other higher education institutions HEIs) seeking to future-proof strategic plans.