- October 16, 2025
Mapúa MCL Hosts Sustainability Literacy Workshop for ASEAN Month Celebration
As part of the ASEAN Month 2025 celebration, the Office for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement (OSPGE) of Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL), in collaboration with Mapúa University and Western Sydney University, hosted a Sustainability Literacy Workshop on September 9, 2025, at the Global Classroom. The workshop brought together experts who shared insights on integrating sustainability into education, leadership, and institutional practice, equipping participants with the knowledge to better understand and engage with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The session opened with Dr. Lawrence Madriaga, Head of Institute for Global Sustainability at Mapúa University, who discussed the critical role of higher education institutions in advancing sustainability. His lecture focused on how integrating the SDGs into institutional leadership and policymaking creates a strong foundation for long-term impact. Dr. Madriaga emphasized that education systems are uniquely positioned to drive sustainable development by shaping future leaders, building resilient communities, and embedding sustainability into academic and organizational cultures.
Following this, Ms. Brittany Vermeulen, Sustainability Program Manager at Western Sydney University delivered a dynamic discussion on “What is sustainability? How can we think, care, do?” She highlighted sustainability not only as an environmental issue but also as a holistic framework that encompasses social responsibility, ethical decision-making, and everyday practices. Ms. Vermeulen encouraged participants to reflect on their own actions, stressing that sustainability begins with awareness and is strengthened by collective responsibility and meaningful collaboration across cultures and sectors.
To conclude the session, Engr. Rolando Bitor, Assistant Vice President of the Institute for Global Sustainability Artificial Intelligence Integration Office at Mapúa MCL, presented the foundational pillars of a sustainability framework. His presentation outlined practical approaches for embedding sustainability principles into institutional strategies, operations, and community engagement. Engr. Bitor underscored the importance of aligning academic initiatives with sustainable infrastructure and innovation, ensuring that sustainability becomes both a guiding principle and a lived practice within organizations and communities.
This workshop underscored Mapúa MCL’s commitment to advancing sustainable development in alignment with SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. By fostering cross-institutional collaboration and knowledge-sharing, the Sustainability Literacy Workshop empowered participants to become active contributors to inclusive and sustainable growth in the ASEAN region and beyond.
