Championing Sustainability in Mapúa MCL: CSCE Organizes Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Article by: Edward Andrew A. Guese (CSCE)
Photos by: Glen Mark R. Maravillo (CAS) and Mapúa MCL CCO
From L-R: Angela Cecille C. Ortiz-Kare, Mylde Loraine L. de Guzman, Karylyn Kate R. Gan, Ma. Vanessa R. Velasco, Wella Dayne T. Tagle, Edward Andrew A. Guese, Christie C. Amores, Michelle A. Billones, Jocelyn T. Bellin, Asst. Prof. Mayo Grace C. Amit, Dr. Lito E. Suello, Engr. Jesuniño R. Aquino, Engr. Alexander Hamilton S. Atienza, Engr. Maribelle D. Pabiania, Dr. Hermie V. Articona, Angelito D. Platino, Dr. Roel C. Rodrigo, Joanna C. Bartolazo, Hernan Ernani R. Luis, and Dr. Jhona N. Gamez.
As part of the activities for CAS (College of Arts and Science) Week celebration, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (Mapúa MCL) Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE) organized a forum titled “One Sustainable Goal as One Mapúan Community: A Closer Look at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the Lens of the Academe” held at the Mapúa MCL Global Classroom on March 5, 2024. The forum oriented the Mapúa MCL Administrators and Faculty on the concepts of Sustainable Development, the SDGs, and the contribution and challenges of the HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) in achieving the SDGs. The 17 SDGs of the United Nations (UN) are a global call to end poverty, protect our planet, eliminate discrimination against women and girls, and ensure that everyone can enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
CSCE Director Jocelyn T. Bellin moderated the first sustainability forum held at the Mapúa MCL Global Classroom.
The event was moderated by Ms. Jocelyn T. Bellin, the Director of CSCE, and was attended by over 50 administrators and faculty members of Mapúa MCL on-site and online (via Zoom). Among the attendees was Atty. Maria Eloisa R. Gan, the Senior Vice President for Administrative and Legal, who delivered the welcome remarks. To revisit the concept of the SDGs as the action points of the HEIs, CSCE invited Asst. Prof. Mayo Grace C. Amit from the College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAfD) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). During her presentation, Prof. Amit discussed the historical context of the SDGs from a global and Philippine perspective and presented an assessment chart on how the world implemented the 17 goals. According to the 2023 statistical data, the Philippines was ranked 96th out of 166 countries in implementing the SDGs while 8 out of the 17 have sufficient indicators (at least 50% of the indicators) that satisfied the required data. She also gave an overview on how HEIs contribute to the SDGs through its tri-focal functions of instruction, research, and extension.
The forum’s resource person, Asst. Prof. Mayo Grace C. Amit, discussed the concept of the SDGs as action points of the HEIs.
Dr. Hermie V. Articona, the Director of the Research Promotion and Coordination Office (RPCO), discussed the SDG metrics and indicators and how they can be incorporated into the tri-focal functions of the HEIs. He used indicators from the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings in his discussion. These rankings are the first of their kind to measure university progress towards the SDGs and serve as a catalyst for action, a mechanism for accountability, and a way to highlight great work being done by universities. Incorporating the SDGs to Mapúa MCL requires certain strategies to be implemented. For instruction, these strategies include integrating the SDGs into the curriculum, incorporating SDG-related content into syllabi and course materials, and designing class outputs, activities, and capstone projects with an SDG focus.
Mapúa MCL’s Research Director, Dr. Hermie V. Articona, discussed the SDG metrics using the THE Impact Rankings as indicators and how these can be incorporated into the tri-focal functions of the HEIs.
Regarding research, the strategies include aligning research projects and topics with SDG metrics and indicators, providing equipment and facilities for SDG-based research projects, conducting ideation activities and symposiums on SDGs, and boosting collaborations through research partnerships and involving various stakeholders. For extension, the strategies include aligning the service-learning and community engagement initiatives with the mentioned SDG metrics and THE indicators, boosting collaboration through community engagement initiatives, bringing stakeholders together in pursuing extension projects, and conducting capacity-building activities that would develop and improve the target communities and social groups.
Through the sustainability forum, the Mapúa MCL community deepened their understanding on how the institution can integrate sustainable goals into their core functions of teaching, research, and community engagement. This commitment fuels Mapúa MCL’s ongoing pursuit of SDGs and the development of innovative solutions for a sustainable future.