ASEACCU held two-day webinar on sustainable development for Catholic institutions, titled “ASEACCU Beyond the Pandemic: Best Practices towards Sustainable Development” on October 14 and 15, 2021. The webinar-workshop, co-organized by the University of Santo Tomas – Manila (UST), was via Zoom and streamed on the Facebook Page of the ASEACCU.

Plenary sessions for ASEACCU member institution officials, academic staff, and students includeed the keynote address of International Federation of Catholic Universities President Dr. Isabel Capeloa Gil, who addressed the topic: “Challenges and Opportunities to Catholic Higher Educational Institutions in the Time of the Pandemic.”

The keynote address was followed by sessions on Best Practices among ASEACCU Member-Institutions: Teaching & Learning, Wellness and Financial Sustainability. UST’s Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl R. Peralt spoke about Teaching and Learning, while St. Paul Institute Director Phon Sophal shared about Wellness of Being. A talk about Financial Sustainability was also be shared by University of Santo Tomas – Legazpi’s Vice-Rector for Finance and Administration, Fr. Edwin A. Lao, OP.

Research and internationalization were the subjects of the remainder of the plenary sessions and the workshops. On the afternoon of October 14, Australian Catholic University (ACU)’s Prof. Ester Cerin, Assumption University of Thailand’s Dean Marissa Chantamas, and UST Manila and Providence College Rhode Island, USA’s Fr. Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, O.P.  shared their insights about research in higher education in plenary sessions.

This was followed by an exclusive workshop for researchers identified by ASEACCU member institutions. ACU’s Mr. Kirk Doyle facilitated the workshop.

Internationalization took center-stage on October 15, with UST’s Dr. Lilian Sison, ACU’s Mr. Kirk Doyle, and University of Saint Joseph’s Prof. Alvaro Barbosa talking about sustainable internationalization in the new reality, internationalization framework for a Catholic University, and internationalization for young developing institutions, respectively. Another exclusive workshop was organized on October 15, for internationalization directors.

The internationalization workshop was facilitated by Sophia University’s Vice President for Global Affairs, Prof. Tetsuo Morishita and Saint Joseph University’s V.P. for Global Studies, Prof. Alvaro Barbosa.

Assumption University’s President-Rector Magnificus, Rev. Bro. Dr. Bancha Saenghiran,f.s.g., the Director of the office of International Affairs Dr. Glen Chatelier, and faculty Deans and representatives from Assumption University of Thailand activelty participated and gained some valuable insights.

Related links

ASEACCU, UST hold 2-day webinar on sustainable devt for Catholic institutions
Watch the Day 2 (October 15, 2021) of the ASEACU webinar