Quality education comes at a hefty price these days – fact is, most of those who don’t have the means just dive towards the job market to find suitable placements. However, 2018 TFT Educator of the Year Dr. Nino Decenorio had been instrumental in guiding a significant number of Filipinos in the Middle East in obtaining their Business and Management Degrees from the United Kingdom.
From Public Schools to Universities
Decenorio, who is a native of General Santos city, was a public school teacher at Buayan National High School, Philippines. As years went on, he held various teaching and non-teaching posts in colleges and universities until his present designation as the Vice President of Bath Spa University (BSU) UAE in Ras Al Khaimah, an international campus of BSU from England in the United Kingdom.
Through the years, Decenorio has inspired young minds and has transformed their lives as he took them under his wing.
He gave them the guidance that they need so that they may be able to forge their own career paths through direct counselling.
“(Through counselling), their (the students’) perspectives are enlarged about choosing a career pathway that will define their destiny.
“I always end up my counseling with the following phrase ‘Whatever you’ll become in the future that is the product of the decision that you’re going to make today,’” shares Decenorio.
Bridging the gap
By the time that Filipino students graduate in their senior year in the UAE, most Filipino parents opt to send their kids back to the Philippines to afford their college/university fees.
However, Decenorio noticed that it was a cause for concern for many parents as well: “One of the woes or reasons of parents’ sorrow is letting their children go back to the Philippines to continue their college or university studies because most of them cannot afford the high cost of education in the UAE.”
With his capacity as one of the high ranking officials in the university, he spearheaded scholarship programs for those who are in need. “By the grace of God, I am able to initiate scholarship programs for our community. With almost 200 Filipino students that I am able to help; I am making a huge difference in the lives of these people, and I look forward to be able to continue this initiative all through my academic endeavors,” shares Decenorio.
Educating the next generation of Filipino leaders
Decenorio’s passion for teaching is fueled by his sincere desire to lead and guide the next generation of leaders: “Every smile of parent, student and individual that I interacted with in this lifetime has made me in any ways very special in my own rights and capacity as an educator and administrator. There is greater glory of being an educator and administrator especially when you are able to touch lives and be able to make a distinct difference.”
Indeed, Decenorio gives deeper credence to what The Filipino Times Awards is all about.
