The Work Immersion Program will be delivered in a hybrid mode, with trainings and lectures about primary health care and safety services, as well as emergency nursing. In a post by AHMC, the program “aims to provide Senior High School Allied Health students with immersive, hands-on experience in a hospital setting, bridging academic learning with real-world healthcare practice.” AHMC added: “This collaboration highlights both institutions’ commitment to excellence in healthcare education, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and exposure necessary to excel in the medical field.”

The agreement was signed on March 6, 2025 (Thursday) between AHMC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Beaver R. Tamesis and UST Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH. Joining the officials were AHMC Director of Nursing Carolina P. Buhain, PhDN, MAN, RN, UST Senior High School Principal Mary Erika N. Bolaños, PhD, School Secretary Hazel A. Misola, MA, and Health-Allied Strand Chair John Ismael Medina, MA.

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Spread across two plenary session days and an onsite gathering in the various academic units, over 1,500 academic staff from the higher and basic education units engaged with speakers who discoursed on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Catholic teachings, and the task of integrating these into course plans and outcomes.

In his keynote address, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alimane Alminaza, D.D. shared how institutions like UST “play a pivotal role in molding current and future generations in emphasizing sustainability” and how educational institutions may adopt the “Laudato Sí Shools Framework, alongside the inclusion of the rights of nature in the curriculum, as well as further development of the integral ecology framework localized to a particular context.”

Representing the government, Philippine Statistics Authority Chief Statistical Specialist for Poverty and Human Development Bernadette Balamban localized the UN SDGs within the Philippine context, providing an update on how the country is faring vis-à-vis the targets. While progress has been made in SDGs 12 and 14, there is regression in targets under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Balamban called for a “deliberate attempt to recalibrate our curriculum, instruction, and assessment methods in order for HEI’s to be of aid in meeting the set national targets.”

Talking about institutional sustainability, Dr. Yew Kee Ho of the City University of Hongkong’s Chow Yi Ching School of Graduate Studies, spoke of the “vital role of research in promoting sustainability aside from incorporating topics in instruction.” Deputy Dean Ho also bared the need to reflect on University and Impact Rankings when it comes to implementing projects and programs related to sustainability, as these external benchmarks can provide input on recalibrating efforts.

Sustainability in coursework

Two experts spoke about integrating sustainability at the classroom level. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Regional Office Chief of Education Santosh Khatri spoke of scaffolding in relation to sustainability and integral ecology.

In doing so, Khatri reiterated Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for 2030, which aims to fully integrate the 17 SDGs into policies, learning environments, capacity building of educators, and empowerment and mobilization of young people. He also emphasized six key concepts of Greening Curriculum, which include climate science, climate justice, post-carbon economies, ecosystems and biodiversity, resilience-building, and sustainable lifestyles.

In another session, Ateneo de Manila University – Lily Gokongwei Ngochua Leadership Academy Executive Director Maria Assunta C. Cuyegkeng, PhD raised awareness on how to make outcomes impactful in light of sustainability and learning experiences. In her session, Cuyegkeng stressed the value of “discernment which begins with reflecting on our experience, which ultimately develops our interiority” to sound off a “call toward adopting a new lifestyle, ecological conversion, and ecological education.” Integrating sustainability, according to Cuyegkeng, requires a “whole-of-university approach when it comes to redesigning our learning experiences.”

Leveraging on sectoral expertise in promoting sustainability

The webinar also included a panel discussion featuring Mr. Benjamin N. Villacorte (Chairman of the Philippine Sustainability Reporting Committee and a Member of the Sustainable Actions for Value-Creation and Enablement (SAVE) Council of SGV & Co.); Prof. Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD (Dean, College of Science); Asst. Prof. Froilan A. Alipao, MCD (Director, Simbahayan ��ɫ Development Office); and Prof. Cecilia B. Moran, Dr. rer. nat. (Executive Assistant for Research Operations and Management, Office of the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation).

The session, moderated by Prof. Patricia M. Empleo (Dean, UST-AMV College of Accountancy) and Inst. Fermin Antonio D.R. Yabut, PhD (College Secretary, UST-AMV College of Accountancy), provided a platform to share bare how the industry, academe, community development, and research and innovation sectors can work together for sustainable development. Tips were shared to further strengthen working in interdisciplinary teams.

Putting ideas into course plans

As a culmination of the training, parallel onsite workshops were held on January 10, 2025 in the different academic units, where each unit’s pedagogical lead and e-Learning specialists facilitated discussions that aimed to identify practical steps to promote sustainability in instruction and office practices per academic unit.

Later in the day, twenty small groups were formed from different academic units and offices with the aim of sharing practices for promoting sustainability in terms of curricular activities, research activities, community engagement activities, and operational processes. The session provided a platform to craft initial plans for interdisciplinary collaboration to promote sustainability.

The program was organized by the Office of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, the Center for Innovative Teaching and Educational Delivery, and the Educational Technology Center, with support from the UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy.

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Within various technical panels are Thomasian academics and researchers, namely:

ACCOUNTANCY

1. Prof. Patricia M. Empleo, PhD

BIOLOGY, Molecular Biology, and Microbiology

1. Prof. Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz, Dr. rer. Nat.
2. Prof. Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD
3. Prof. John Donnie A. Ramos, PhD

CHEMISTRY

1. Academician Professor Emeritus Maribel G. Nonato, PhD
2. Assoc. Prof. Oliver B. Villaflores, PhD

FINE ARTS

1. Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo, PhD

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

1. Prof. Marilu R. Madrunio, PhD (Chair)
2. Prof. Camilla D.J. Vizconde, PhD

GRADUATE TEACHER EDUCATION

1. Prof. Camilla D.J. Vizconde, PhD

LITERATURE

1. Prof. John Jack G. Wigley, PhD

MARINE SCIENCE

1. Prof. Mary Beth B. Maningas, PhD

MATHEMATICS

1. Prof. Ma. Carlota B. Decena, PhD

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

1. Prof. Ma. Freida Z. Hapan, PhD

MEDICINE

1. Prof. Ma. Minerva P. Calimag, MD, PhD

MUSIC

1. Assoc. Prof. Dolores T. Andres, PhD

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

1. Asst. Prof. Kathlene Anne V. Hernandez, MHPEd

OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING

1. Assoc. Prof. Ma. Ninia I. Calaca, MA, MAPhl
2. Prof. Belen L. Tangco, PhD

PHARMACY

1. Prof. Aleth Therese L. Dacanay, PhD (Chair)

PHILOSOPHY

1. Prof. Robert A. Montaña, PhD

PHYSICAL THERAPY

1. Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH

PHYSICS

1. Assoc. Prof. Angelita Silverio, MS (ret.)

REAL ESTATE

1. Prof. Eduardo G. Ong, PhD

SOCIOLOGY

1. Prof. Clarence M. Batan, PhD
2. Asst. Prof. Louie Benedict R. Ignacio, PhD

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

1. Inst. Elinor Bautista
2. Asst. Prof. Judith S. Damian, MS (ret.)

The newly reconstituted technical panels will have a four-year term beginning on January 1, 2025 and ending on December 31, 2028.

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In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Rector Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., PhD said that UST, with this recognition, “we can only be inspired and grateful as well.” The Rector also said that the UST must “not just…maintain quality and excellence but to elevate these to a higher level. We owe it to all our stakeholders, most especially our students.” The Rector acknowledged the hard work of the community, who together “have done very well during the period covering 2019 to 2023.” Fr. Ang, who laid out his six-point agenda for the next four years in his installation, expressed hope that the achievement will “encourage everyone to continue contributing to the fulfillment of our mission as a Catholic educational institution.”

Meanwhile, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH stressed the importance of quality assurance practices in UST’s continued pursuit of excellence: “We need to focus our efforts on strengthening our quality assurance mechanisms at the institutional, unit, and program levels as we improve our existing programs and develop new and innovative programs and services.” Peralta assured the community of UST’s continued efforts to “realign our approaches and redesign our academic programs so they effectively respond to the needs of society and prepare our graduates for the future of work.”

Autonomous institutions are exempted from CHED’s regular monitoring and evaluation and are prioritized in the grant of subsidies and other financial incentives or assistance. New programs may also be offered by the given PHEI, which is also authorized to “determine and prescribe their curricular programs to achieve global competence.” Autonomous institutions, meanwhile, are expected to help in quality assurance development and mentoring programs for non-Autonomous and non-Deregulated PHEIs to help increase the number of recognized institutions.

CHED assessed UST and other private higher education institutions using the instrument laid out in CHED Memorandum Order No. 6, Series of 2023. The criteria look into “Commitment to Program Excellence” (30 points), “Excellence in Instruction, Scholarly Works, and ��ɫ Engagements” (40 points), and “Institutional Quality and Excellence” (30 points). Institutions with scores of 80 and above are granted Autonomous Status, which has been conferred to 77 private higher education institutions this cycle.

Among the evidence required of universities are evidence of program accreditation/assessment from international and local agencies, such as ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance (AUNQA) and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, and the Centers of Excellence and Development awarded by CHED itself. To date, UST has 18 bachelor’s programs certified by AUNQA, 13 Centers of Excellence, and 13 Centers of Development. UST programs also enjoy accreditation from local agencies like the Philippine Accrediting Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) and the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU).

Programs with above-national-passing-rate performance in licensure exams, average graduation rate, and percentage of employed graduates were also assessed for the period, along with the presence of academic staff with doctoral degrees and/or industry experience. The engagement of academic staff in research was also assessed through patents, indexed publications, and creative works, along with their recognitions received from local and international agencies. A university’s partnerships with communities and other institutions were also assessed, including mobility and quality assurance engagements.

Institutional recognitions by both local and institutional bodies, such as AUNQA and ISO, also help in determining the status given to an institution, while recognitions from international rankings bodies like Times Higher Education (THE) and Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) were also counted. During the period of 2019-2023, UST earned its Institutional Certification from AUNQA, becoming the second Philippine university to enjoy the recognition. Meanwhile, it remains one of the top-ranked universities according to metrics used by THE and QS. UST, which has enjoyed ISO certification, is also transitioning to the ISO 21001:2018 certification soon, following successful certifications under 9001:2008 and 9001:2015.

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The collaboratory is a four-part webinar series featuring Thomasian experts. Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH provided the overview of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education on August 12, 2024, while Educational Technology Center Acting Director April Joy M. Gascon, MAN, RN spoke about Innovating Teaching and Learning with AI.

On August 28, 2024, College of Education Assistant Dean Louie B. Dasas, PhD will discuss (Re)Designing Learning Assessments with AI in Mind, while Institute of Religion academic researcher Leo-Martin Angelo R. Ocampo, MA will close the series with the talk “Strengthening Humanity and Human Agency in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” in a big to refocus the discourse on the role of humans in the use of technology.

Interested participants may register here:

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University officials led by the Rector, the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, and academic unit heads joined the event to confer the recognitions upon this year’s retirees, namely:

Accountancy

Inst. Rosalina L. Erece, MS – 8 years of service

Asst. Prof. Shirley C. Ireneo, MA – 39.5 years of service

Architecture

Assoc. Prof. Leah P. dela Rosa, PhD – 28 years of service

Arts and Letters

Asst. Prof. Jocelyn A. Amongo, MEd – 26 years of service

Prof. Arlen A. Ancheta, PhD – 42.5 years of service

Asst. Prof. Zenaida L. de Luna, MEd – 25.5 years of service

Asst. Prof. Gonzalo R. Malihan, PhD – 16 years of service

Prof. Felicidad E. Pereña, EdD – 22 years of service

Asst. Prof. Josephine A. Placido, MA – 41.5 years of service

Civil Law

Prof. Philip A. Aguinaldo, Ll. B. – 40 years of service

Counseling and Career Center

Assoc. Counselor Monica Sophia D.L. Tuason, PhD – 20 years of service

Engineering

Assoc. Prof. Josefin S. de Alban, Jr., MS, Ll. B. – 44 years of service

Fine Arts and Design

Inst. Guia Concepcion A. Sarte – 6 years of service

Medicine and Surgery

Asst. Prof. German Jose T. Albano, MD – 28 years of service

Asst. Prof. Jolinda V. Almazan, MD – 30 years of service

Prof. Mary Jocylyn S. Bautista, MD – 32 years of service

Prof. Remedios D. Chan, MD – 36 years of service

Assoc. Prof. Nilo C. delos Santos, MD – 32 years of service

Assoc. Prof. Alejandro Bimbo F. Diaz, MD – 36 years of service

Prof. Maria Honolina S. Gomez, MD – 29.5 years of service

Assoc. Prof. Lerrie D. Gutierrez, MD – 26 years of service

Prof. Albert E. Ismael, MD – 30 years of service

Assoc. Prof. Iluminada M. Lerma, MD – 30.5 years of service

Prof. Norberto V. Martinez, MD – 34 years of service

Prof. Alejandro Jr. V. Pineda, MD – 32 years of service

Prof. Raymond L. Rosales, MD – 35 years of service

Assoc. Prof. Josefino I. Sanchez, MD – 30 years of service

Assoc. Prof. Marie Michelle Y. So, MD – 30 years of service

Prof. Anniela Y. Soliven, MD – 32.5 years of service

Assoc. Prof. Ma. Irene B. Tangco, MD – 30 years of service

Nursing

Assoc. Prof. Eden I. Beltran, MA – 34 years of service

Asst. Prof. Cecilia P. Buenaflor, MA – 34 years of service

Asst. Prof. Margaret M. Natividad, MA – 39 years of service

Pharmacy

Prof. Ma. Cristina C. Doria, PhD – 42 years of service

Asst. Prof. Andrea G. Vargas, MS – 30 years of service

Religion

Prof. Noel G. Asiones, PhD – 40 years of service

Asst. Prof. Jose Carlos, MA

Asst. Prof. Catalina M. Lituañas, MA – 40 years of service

Asst. Prof. Claudita O. Yaranon, MA – 36 years of service

Science

Asst. Prof. Catherine C. Carson, MS – 28.5 years of service

Assoc. Prof. Alicia Ely J. Pagulayan, MS – 39.5 years of service

Asst. Prof. Ma. Victoria B. Pangilinan, MS – 26.5 years of service

Asst. Prof. Marites D. Saludares, EdD – 34 years of service

Prof. Marie Antonette S. Vargas, PhD – 30 years of service

A life of great service

In his homily, fr. Tiong, on the occasion of the Feast of St. James the Apostle, thanked the retirees for their many years of service, “one of the central themes of the day’s Gospel.” “This [gratitude] is really something that comes from the heart of the University…because…you have graced the University by your presence, by your very person,” fr. Tiong said in his homily.

During the testimonial, Prof. Peralta lauded the retirees for molding their students’ character and empowering them to contribute positive changes in the world through education. “As you step into the next chapter of your lives in retirement, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for selflessly dedicating yourselves to molding young minds, motivating discouraged hearts, and uplifting dampened spirits that allowed Thomasian students, alumni, and university staff reach what they are today,” Peralta said.

In his message, fr. Ang stated that seasoned teachers have fulfilled their roles when students finally develop their own moral compass to guide them in life and extend their learnings beyond the classroom, as well as getting remembered for acknowledging and treating them well. “They will remember how well you treated them, how they felt valued and cared for, and how you recognized their unique gifts and talents,” fr. Ang said.

Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof. Josefin de Alban, Jr. delivered his acceptance speech on behalf of the retirees, emphasizing that the University they served for years will always be their home. “Retiring faculty members shall never leave UST. We shall never forget,” de Alban said. “UST is our home and we always wanted to be in this beloved Pontifical University whenever we are away from her,” he added.

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During the ten-month program, there will be a twenty-seven (27)-unit program delivered to the teachers in hybrid format. Among the outputs are capstone projects from the Pasig City teachers, who will be mentored by faculty experts from the UST College of Education and the College of Science.

The Memorandum of Agreement among UST, the City Government of Pasig, and DepEd Schools Division of Pasig was signed by the Rector of UST, Very Rev. fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., PhD (represented by Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH); the Pasig City Mayor, the Hon. Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto; and the Pasig City Schools Division Superintendent, Ms. Ma. Evalou Concepcion A. Agustin.

In his message, Mayor Sotto expressed delight at the partnership, which bolster the capacity of the local government’s Science teachers. Councilor Corazon Raymundo, in-charge of Education in the City Council, in her message, also thanked UST for helping them achieve the city’s vision of former “Batang Pasig” who are “matino, mahusay, at magiting.” The investment of the local government in teachers is a step in the right direction, according to Ms. Shalani Soledad-Romulo, representing Congressman Roman T. Romulo, as this will redound to the benefit of the students later on.

The University Rector expressed hope that the collaboration will be the first of many avenues opened for partnerships between UST and the local government of Pasig City. The Rector expressed the University’s commitment to help prepare the teachers “to take on leadership roles and nurture their abilities to work cross-culturally if we really have to make an impact on the kind of education we give to our students.” College of Education Dean Pilar I. Romero, PhD assured the city government of UST’s formation of Science teachers who will have a heart that will allow them not just be technocrats but people of service to society.

Gracing the event were VRAA Peralta, Dean Romero, College of Science Dean Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD, Department of Secondary Education Chair John Christian C. Valeroso, PhD, Education High School Science Supervising Teacher Louie B. Dasas, PhD, as well as officials from Pasig City and DepEd. Councilor Raymundo, Ms. Soledad-Romulo, and Hon. Robert Vincent Jude B. Jaworski, Jr., Vice-Mayor, joined Mayor Sotto in the event.

Photos by Hans Lawrence V. Malgapu

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Held from November 23 to 24, 2021, the webinar provided a platform for collaboration among academics and practitioners involved in research and development in the quantitative sciences, analytics and applied mathematics.

UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard Ang, OP, Ph.D., in his opening message, stressed the importance of data analytics and the need to find effective ways to analyze and utilize these data especially during this challenging time of the pandemic, stating, “When great minds meet, great things happen.”

The keynote session was led by UST Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Cheryl R. Peralta with her presentation “Data-Informed Decisions in Academics in Support of Quality Assurance: The Experience of the ��ɫ.”

Peralta discussed the University’s experiences in the use of data analytics for informed decision-making in academics and highlighted the key lessons in UST’s journey that helped support continuous quality improvement.

Prof. Dr. Naomie Salim of the School of Computing of the Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia, and Prof. Dr. Anton Abdulbasah Kamil of Istanbul Gelisim University, Turkey, were among the keynote speakers.

Faculty members and students from the College of Science and the College of Information and Computing Sciences presented papers during the parallel sessions.

From the Department of Mathematics and Physics of the College of Science, faculty presenters on the topic ‘Surfing the Big Waves’ included: Department Chair Asst. Prof. Enrico Yambao (“Iteration Functions for Approximating Complex Roots of Cubic Polynomials”), Dr. Josephine Bernadette Benjamin, (“Feature Weighted Multi-View Possibilistic C-Means with Feature Reduction Framework”), Dr. Ma. Carlota Decena, (“Detecting Chaos in Time-Series Data of Localized Measles Cases in the Philippines”), Dr. Bernhard Egwolf, (“The UST CoV-2 Model for the COVID-19 Pandemic in Metro Manila”), Asst. Prof. Arturo Patungan- (“A Machine Learning Modeling Prediction of Enrollment of Admitted College Applicants at ��ɫ”), and Asst. Prof. Mark Louie Ramos (“Adaptive local false discovery rate procedures for spiky data and their application to protein Set4 Delta data”).

Discussed during the second day of the webinar was “Improving Asynchronous Delivery of Mathematics in the Modern World through Student Feedback: A Descriptive Case Study” delivered by the dynamic and YouTube sensation faculty member of the Mathematics and Physics Department, Asst. Prof. Xandro Alexi Nieto.

This was followed by eight student presenters from the UST College of Science and the UST College of Information and Computing Sciences that included: Ronica Lilia A. Pascua (College of Science- “Cardiac alternans suppression using the T±ε feedback control in a single cell human model”), Jose Conrado Añonuevo (College of Information and Computing Sciences- “A Prescriptive Analysis of Toll Plaza Booths for Company X”), Ramon Joseph A. Teoxon (College of Science- “Proton beam interaction with ovary and prostate tissues using SRIM software simulation”), Abigail Joy Roxas (College of Information and Computing Sciences – “Revenue Maximization: A Case for a Furniture and Decking Company”), Nicole G. Aquino (College of Information and Computing Sciences – “A Prescriptive Analysis on the Cost Optimization of LF Almirañez Construction Metal Works”), Jigo Jovero (College of Science – “Feasibility of Markov Chain Modelling Techniques for Covid-19 Cases Prediction in the Philippines”), Ray Liorenz SP. Dominguez (College of Science – “Sentiment Analysis of the ��ɫ on COVID-19 Vaccination Programs: A Case Study of the 2nd District of NCR, Philippines” ) , and Hancelie Keith Llaguno (College of Information and Computing Sciences – “The Implementation of Service Desk and Service Request Management through the Development of e-Ticketing System for IT Management Services”).

The conference concluded with speeches from the Dean of the UUM School of Quantitative Sciences Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Kamal Mohd Nawawi, and the Dean of the UST College of Science Prof. Dr. Rey Donne S. Papa.

The two-day event in a fully virtual platform brought together numerous participants from Malaysia, Philippines, Nigeria, Japan, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United States of America, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Taiwan, and other countries.

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Challenges and opportunities to Catholic higher educational institutions in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic

In her keynote lecture, Dr. Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, mentioned that the medical schools and research centers belonging to the Catholic institutions were working on a wide array of solutions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the trials to global exchange, according to Gil, the networks and the global exchange models must still proceed.��

The educational institutions around the world have maximized the use of technology when the COVID-19 pandemic halted the face-to-face transactions. Likewise, Gil said the supplemental role of technology in the traditional in-person instruction will stay, thus underscoring the importance of embracing the new, ever-evolving, and innovative practices in teaching, which sprung from limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What started as a crisis is now paving way to a more nimble, flexible, and at times less formal instruction framework. We can see how our friends, students, and teachers live through their screens, perhaps enabling also new forms of sociality,” Gil said.

Moreover, Gil urged the Catholic universities to grab the opportunity to focus their strategies and development on impact-driven and socially sustainable goals. “The opportunity to renew traditional pedagogy and strengthen collaborative learning models must be embraced. An implementation of education-friendly technology affords inclusion and enhances cooperation,” Gil said.

Gil is currently the Rector of the Catholic University of Portugal (UCP) and the President of the International Federation of Catholic Universities. She is a full professor of Culture Studies at the UCP – School of Human Sciences.

Sharing the best practices during the pandemic

During the morning plenary sessions of day one, the speakers shared their respective institutions’ best practices during the health crisis, specifically pertaining to teaching and learning, wellness of stakeholders, and financial viability.

On behalf of the University, UST Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, PTRP spoke about the University’s implementation of the enriched virtual mode of instruction (EVM) and how the principles of flexibility, accessibility, and dialogue guided the top university officials and administrators in creating decisions, which kept the Thomasian-brand of education living in these tumultuous times.

“At this time of pandemic, there is much value in cooperation, teamwork, and collaboration to achieve a common purpose. For a big and comprehensive institution like the ��ɫ, synergy among its 22 degree-granting units is crucial for implementing plans and strategies to address concerns,” Peralta said.

On behalf St. Paul Institute-Cambodia, Director, Mr. Phon Sophal talked about ensuring the wellness of their stakeholders, as well as their institution’s charitable initiatives in providing their students with equipment. “In addressing wellness during the pandemic, St. Paul Institute tried hard to contact individually to students to know how St. Paul Institute can help them. For students who are really poor, we allowed them to borrow laptops and tablets to help them in online learning,” Sophal said.

Lastly, ��ɫ – Legazpi, Philippines’s Vice-President for Finance and Administration, Fr. Edwin Lao, O.P., spoke about financial sustainability during the pandemic. “On financial sustainability for development strategies, UST-Legazpi adopts differentiation, focus, and cost. There are used not in an exclusive way,” fr. Lao said.

“We grounded these on the principles and values of fiscal discipline and excellence. There were arrived at by conscientiously applying the major functions of financial management and using the management tools of analysis,” fr. Lao said.

On research

In the afternoon plenary sessions, three scholars presented updates on their work to show how research has thrived even during the pandemic.

Australian Catholic University’s Professor Ester Cerin spoke lengthily about how the physical environment, especially in urban cities, impacted brain functioning and development. “What we need to try to create is a built environment that promotes actual interaction with people, rather than spending a lot of time on the screen and communicating with people through social media,” Cerin said.

“The more opportunities you have for things to do in the environment, the less likely you are to actually engage substantial screen time, which has a negative impact on health,” Cerin noted.

Assumption University’s Dean Marissa Chantamas emphasized the need for audiences to include sustainability as a factor in their consumption. “Sustainability is trying to change the attitudes and behaviors of consumers because traditionally we do not think about sustainability in our consumption. Aligning sustainability with profitability is the long-term [solution],” Chantamas said.

“Being caring to the environment, to society is part of the cost that they [companies] cannot cut. It is thus important for customers to support companies that are promoting sustainability. If we can do that, it’s a win-win for all,” Chantamas said.

UST Department of Biological Sciences Visiting Professor Rev. fr. Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, O.P., PhD, SThD noted the importance of getting vaccinated as a way to achieve herd immunity, leading to the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. “We have administered 6.6 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses to date. No other vaccine has been administered this much in history. Side effects are incredibly rare. The effectiveness of these vaccines substantially outweigh their risks,” fr. Austriaco said.

Moreover, he gave updates on the yeast-based oral Covid-19 vaccine currently being developed by UST researchers and scholars from the Providence College, USA.” We are working to develop a shelf-stable, safe vaccine that you can store for two years. The proposed name is of the yeast-based oral-vaccine is DominiVax and is part of Project Pagasa,” fr. Austriaco said.

Watch the Day 1 (October 14, 2021) of the ASEACU webinar:

On internationalization

During the plenary sessions of day two, three internationalization experts from the Philippines, Australia, and Macau shared how internationalization can be done in different university contexts.

Director of the UST Office of International Relations and Programs Prof. Lilian Sison, PhD shared the importance of blending high-quality online learning to internationalization in the post-COVID-19 world. “Our primary purpose is to maintain active contact with key international partners to redesign cooperation for faculty and student exchanges, transnational education, and transnational research,” Sison said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kirk Doyle of the Australian Catholic University said their institution will focus on injecting innovation into their approach, creating diversification in the breadth and quality of offerings, and as well as delivering an authentic digitalized global experience that moves beyond virtual replacements. “We need to recover, retain, and return international students; build sustainable and diversified international enrolment sources; and innovate and adapt learning abroad,” Doyle said.

Lastly, Prof. Alvaro Barbosa shared how small universities can be sustainable through internationalization and research initiatives. “At the heart of any change or transformation in the economy is education. The government [of Macau] realized that more investment was necessary for higher education,” Barbosa said.

“We need to make sure future blended activities can be sustained over time and not only [be] experiments to prove we can do it.” he said.

Capping the second day of the webinar, an exclusive workshop was held for the internationalization officials. The internationalization workshop was facilitated by Mr. Glen Chatelier, Director of the Assumption University – Bangkok, Thailand Office of International Affairs.

Watch the Day 2 (October 15, 2021) of the ASEACU webinar:

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More than 2,000 participants, composed of third-year students, graduating students, and alumni, registered prior to the event to meet and interact with 60 partner companies from different industries such as Proctor and Gamble (P&G), Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc., Amazon Operation Services Philippines, GMA Network, and Unilab Inc.
Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, in her welcome remarks, said that the work ecosystem and global economy have shifted to accommodate the impact of the global pandemic, and the system of industries have been challenged.

“The stress of the situation probably created a feeling of loss, demotivation, and uncertainty for our graduating students,” said Peralta, adding that despite these challenges, the University looks forward to its graduates being able to find meaningful and purposive careers, dreams and expectations with God’s unending grace.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Asec. Dominique Rubia-Tutay, CESO III addressed the realities of the labor market that fresh graduates will experience in her keynote speech.

“The lingering pandemic has brought our economy down to its knee. Employment is likewise affected. [There’s an] imbalance of supply of workers and the demand of businesses,” explained DOLE Asst. Sec. Tutay.

The Assistant Secretary shared tips and advice to the participants on how to traverse this rough path ahead to employment, which include improving critical thinking and problem-solving skills that employers believe will grow in prominence in the next five years.

The short program was followed by the live exhibitors’ booth where students and alumni can choose from different company Zoom meeting rooms to join. Participants were able to connect with employers through on-cam interactions and consultations. UST alumni from different companies also joined their colleagues in Zoom meeting rooms to share their work experience.

For their career fair next year, OAR and CCC aim to make the virtual career fair bigger with more exhibitors and participants and allow for more extended employee-applicant interactions. This year’s career fair was powered by Prosple, an Australian-based company specializing in careers and education technology.

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