This brought together leaders from local and international government, the academe, and industry.
Last March 11, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) joined forces for the SDG Action Summit: Higher Education, Science, and Technology in Clark, Pampanga.
With the theme “Towards a Unified Higher Education Pathway for Achieving the SDGs,” the program aims to strengthen collaboration to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The three-day summit became a platform for multi-sectoral dialogue and cooperation for innovation-led growth and national development.
The second focused on aligning academic programs, research, and innovation with national science, technology, and innovation priorities.
During the program, CHED and DOST formally unveiled key initiatives to strengthen research and innovation.
Foremost on the priority is the MOU signing between CHED and DOST-PCAARRD for the Technology Business Incubation Program, and the introduction of the Philippine Technology Evaluation and Standards for Testing (PHITEST)—aimed at enhancing testing infrastructure and boosting the global competitiveness of Filipino innovations.
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis noted, “The Philippines already has the institutions, the talent, and the knowledge base necessary to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. What we must do now is align them more deliberately and mobilize them strategically.”
Meanwhile, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum told, “The Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved by any nation alone. Science thrives on collaboration, through partnerships with research institutions, universities, international organizations, local government units, and the private sector, the Philippines ensures that scientific discoveries become tools for national and global impact.”
The fireside chat and panel discussion featured officials from DOST, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev), Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PASUC), Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU), University of the Philippines (UP), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU).
Also present to provide global perspectives on SDG solutions were representatives from the UNESCO National Commission, the National Secretariat of the SDGs under the National Development Planning Agency of Indonesia, and Sunway University of Malaysia.