CLARK, PAMPANGA – June 17, 2025 – The UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) joins the Annual UPLB Faculty Conference at the Glory Hotel in Clark, Pampanga, on June 16-17, 2025. This year, OIC Dean, Dr. Mark Dondi M. Arboleda, and Faculty Member, Dr. Badi R. Samaniego represented the school in this event that tackled pressing challenges and emerging opportunities in higher education.

The two-day conference featured a wide array of topics designed to equip faculty for a rapidly changing world. Day One sessions explored critical areas, including quality assurance in higher education, integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into curricula, and the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education.

The event underscored the importance of quality assurance, particularly in light of SESAM’s goal to achieve certification from the ASEAN University Network (AUN), highlighting the need to demonstrate world-class programs despite resource constraints. The School has consistently incorporated the SDGs into its programs and stands ready to assist other UP units in doing the same.

The session on AI sparked significant interest, featuring a demonstration of an AI tool capable of generating courses. Dr. Arboleda reflected on SESAM’s approach: “Let students use AI? Definitely. Use it to drive us? No. Use it as a tool. Let students and faculty be creative.” He acknowledged AI as a major topic requiring further discussion.

Other topics discussed on Day 1 included novel concepts such as social entrepreneurship – creating cooperatives focused on societal benefits alongside profit – and service learning, exemplified by a program from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University that sends students to underserved areas for critical on-the-job training, fostering appreciation and service. The day concluded with a crucial presentation on research ethics. SESAM should adopt this approach to ensure that it maintains ethical and transparent practices.

Day Two opened with an inspirational message from UP President Hon. Angelo A. Jimenez, then followed by the plenary sessions which covered diverse themes. Dr. Leo DP. Cubillan, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs presented UP’s plans for its Damariñas campus. 

Atty. Agnes Devanadera, President and CEO of the Clark Development Corporation, emphasized in her message the need for educators to teach students “to navigate uncertainty, rather than merely learning about their surroundings.” President Jimenez reinforced this by highlighting challenges such as AI, climate change, pandemics, poverty, corruption, and inequality, while calling for a more flexible, adaptive, and interdisciplinary approach to education.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ei Ming Wu, Visiting Professor, UP NCPAG and Senior Managing Advisor of the Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association lectured on the best practices in Industry-Academic Partnerships. Dr. Wu encouraged educators to evolve their focus from individual or institutional development to a more “nation-building” perspective. This way, individual and institutional goals will inherently be achieved while promoting national interests. 

Prof. Ma. Theresa T. Payongayong, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs presented the strategies for “Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn: P4C and the Changing Demands of Education“. In her talk, Prof. Payongayong reminded the audience to avoid the “tyranny of right and wrong” and that as educators, they should be confident to acknowledge their own intellectual limitations.

The final plenary talk was about “Lifelong Learning”, delivered by Prof. Greg T. Pawilen of the UPLB College of Human Ecology, together with Prof. Angelica O. Cortez of the College of Education, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, both of whom are members of the CHED Technical Working Group on Lifelong Learning. 

Key themes resonated throughout the conference that may relate to SESAM as an interdisciplinary school.The conference provided SESAM and other UPLB units with valuable insights and frameworks to navigate the evolving educational landscape, focusing on quality, relevance, ethics, and adaptability in preparing students for the complex global challenges that they will face. (RDAregalado-Dimasuay)