As UPLB takes significant strides towards becoming a sustainability leader in higher education, its high-level officials participated in an executive training that aims to integrate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its research, teaching, and community engagement activities.

The training held from October 16-18 was facilitated by CIFAL Victoria, a UN-recognized and accredited International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders established by the UN Institute of Training and Research and the University of Victoria (UVic).

In a brief written by CIFAL Victoria, the training was a result of a series of conversations among UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., Vice Chancellor for R&E Nathaniel C. Bantayan, and Dr. Elango Elangovan, Associate Vice President International of UVic, during an international conference in Canada.

Vice Chancellor Bantayan recognized the need to unify UPLB’s diverse sustainability initiatives. Recognizing the similarity between UPLB’s vision and CIFAL Victoria’s expertise, the University partnered with the UN-certified training center to develop a workshop aimed at advancing the UN SDGs in the campus. 

Around 30 officials, composed of vice chancellors, assistant to the vice chancellors, college deans, and directors of units under the Office of the Chancellor, attended the training titled “Developing a Sustainability Mindset for Executive Leaders”. 

For two and a half days, CIFAL Victoria’s Dr. Crystal Tremblay and UVic’s Assoc. Prof. Heather Ranson guided the UPLB officials in determining how they can integrate the UN SDGs into the research, instruction, campus operations, and partnerships of UPLB. 

It also allowed the participants to share ideas, set objectives, and identify “champions” who will advance the SDG initiatives within their respective colleges and for the whole campus.

On the last day of the training, Chancellor Camacho shared a plan for a “new governance structure” to steer the SDG integration at UPLB, which was met with agreement by the UPLB leaders. 

“The training clarified that SDG is not just a buzzword. There is a need for consolidation through a governance mechanism and a reorientation of what we have already been doing all along in UPLB,” Chancellor Camacho said. 

This plan is to create a university committee that will formulate the UPLB Sustainability Plan which will guide the University in cultivating a sustainability mindset among the constituents and in integrating the UN SDGs into the day-to-day operations in the campus. 

Aside from the training, CIFAL Victoria’s report highlighted discussions about potential collaborations between UPLB and UVic, which Vice Chancellor Bantayan emphasized.

“The CIFAL training brought UPLB and UVic together and gave us the time and focus to consider additional ways we can work together,” he said. He invited UVic to engage with UPLB as visiting researchers and professors. 

At the end of their report, CIFAL Victoria said that their relationship with UPLB “demonstrates the value of offering SDG training beyond advancing the SDGs at both institutions.” (Ana Margarita Palma)