This conviction lies at the heart of PSU’s GAD Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, a comprehensive, data-driven program designed to ensure that every employee — regardless of gender, age, civil status, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or belief — feels recognized, respected, and empowered.
“We believe that inclusivity is not merely a policy,” a PSU representative shared. “It is a culture — a lived experience — where every employee can grow, lead, and belong.”
A Strategy Rooted in Innovation and Participation
PSU’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy did not emerge overnight. It was built from a meticulous and participatory process that began with a university-wide Gender Sensitivity Assessment, giving leaders a clear view of the current climate and opportunities for change.
The result was the GAD Diversity and Inclusion Framework, anchored on four strategic pillars:
1.Policy Reform
2.Capacity Building
3.Inclusive Governance
4.Gender-Responsive Human Resource Systems
This framework now guides PSU in crafting responsive, future-ready policies. From gender-fair recruitment and promotion processes to anti-discrimination protocols and flexible work arrangements, the university has taken concrete steps to embed inclusivity into its everyday systems.
PSU’s Human Resource Development Plan has also undergone a transformation. Gender responsiveness is now integrated into performance appraisals, rewards, professional development, and workplace protocols — ensuring that opportunities are free from bias and grounded in fairness.
One of PSU’s standout innovations is its GAD Champions Program — a decentralized system of focal persons trained to lead gender and inclusion initiatives in every campus and unit. This model ensures that inclusion is not just managed from the top — it is lived, monitored, and championed across all levels of the university.
Transformative Impact: Measurable, Meaningful, and People-Centered
The impact of PSU’s initiative is both quantitative and deeply human.
In the last two years, the university recorded:
46% increase in employee participation in GAD activities
Gender parity in leadership, with female representation in directorial and executive posts rising from 38% to 54%
92% of employees affirming that PSU provides a respectful and inclusive workplace — up from 76% in 2022
12% reduction in staff turnover
Improved internal promotion rates among women and underrepresented groups
These numbers tell a compelling story: when employees feel safe, valued, and supported, they stay, they grow, and they perform better.
“Our employees are the heart of the university,” the spokesperson emphasized. “When they thrive, PSU thrives.”
Testimonials from faculty and staff echo the same sentiment — a renewed sense of belonging, increased morale, and confidence in a system that seeks to uplift every individual.
Sustaining Momentum: Inclusion as a Long-Term Commitment
PSU recognizes that genuine inclusivity is not a one-time project. It is a sustained commitment. That is why the university is preparing for even more ambitious steps in the coming years.
Beginning 2025, PSU will:
Integrate GAD indicators into the Strategic Performance Management System (SPMS)
Unit heads will be evaluated not only for productivity, but for how well they foster inclusive, respectful workplaces.
Launch the Gender-Responsive Leadership Academy
This in-house leadership program will prepare the next generation of inclusive, ethical, and empathetic PSU leaders.
Introduce Campus Inclusivity Scorecards
Tied to budget allocations, these scorecards will measure each unit’s progress — ensuring accountability and shared responsibility across the university.
With these next steps, PSU is making one thing clear: inclusion is now part of its identity, strategy, and vision.
A Promise for the Future
“Inclusivity is not a campaign — it is a culture,” the PSU representative said in closing. “And at Pangasinan State University, we are committed to building a community where everyone has the opportunity to grow, to lead, and to belong.”
As PSU proudly champions its GAD Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, the university continues to set a benchmark for people-centered governance — proving that when an institution values people first, excellence naturally follows.
At PSU, we don’t just build universities.
We build inclusive communities — one empowered employee at a time.
