UPD gathers stakeholders, discusses SDG contribution
- Written by: Erick Prynze Sazon and Charles Jason Ramos
- Photos by: Arlyh Hirao, Michael Baguisa & Michelle Lagare
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The UP Diliman Quality Assurance Office (UPD QAO) conducted the first UP Diliman Symposium on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) last April 21, 2025 as part of the 2025 QA Month celebration. The symposium was held at the Bulwagang Tandang Sora of the College of Social Work and Community Development. It served as a venue for administrators, QA officers, and support staff to discuss the direction of the University for its contributions towards the accomplishment of the SDGs. Keynote speakers included Dr. Nathaniel C. Bantayan, the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension of UP Los Baños, and Dr. Michelle R. Palumbarit, the Director of UP-CIFAL Philippines. The symposium was moderated by Dr. Christian R. Orozco, the SDG Focal Point Person for UP Diliman.
In her opening message, Director Matias emphasized the pivotal role of the University in shaping the country’s research and innovation agenda. As the national university, UP is called upon to strengthen its leadership in higher education and to provide meaningful contributions to address today’s most pressing challenges. Director Matias expressed hope that the symposium would inspire university officials, faculty, and staff to reflect on how they can further contribute to the University’s impact in advancing the United Nations SDGs.
Director Palumbarit of UP-CIFAL Philippines shared insights into the center’s mission and initiatives, focusing on key thematic areas: sustainability, public policy, governance and management, peace and security, human and social development, environment and climate change, infrastructure and economic development, and technology and innovation. The Center is positioned to align the University’s initiatives with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through its extensive and strong networks with various offices, units, and organizations within and outside the University.
Since assuming her role in 2023, Director Palumbarit has committed to support the establishment of an SDG Committee at both the UP System and constituent university levels, the creation of an SDG database and accompanying surveys, the rollout of an SDG caravan that includes orientations, workshops, and training sessions, the formation of the SDG roadmap and policy framework, and the publication of an SDG-focused academic journal.
UPLB Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Dr. Nathaniel C. Bantayan highlighted the university’s efforts in advancing research aligned with the SDGs, specifically the Accelerating Growth through One Research & Extension in Action (AGORA), a unified agenda that brings together research and extension initiatives to help future-proof the University’s development work on food security and sovereignty, health, resilience and sustainability, future-ready communities and institutions, and social justice and cultural flourishing. The AGORA has been instrumental in helping faculty and researchers identify the SDGs most relevant to their expertise and where their work can have the greatest impact. An SDG tagging and mapping initiative is under way, which would further convey the University’s intention to promote sustainability and enhance quality of life.
After VC Bantayan’s presentation, UPD QAO Director Matias reported the results of the SDG survey deployed by the office last year and shared insights about the data submitted to the UP System for the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. THE assesses universities around the world based on their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The survey results showed that UP Diliman makes major contributions to the following SDGs:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Given the limitations in funding and manpower, Director Matias proposed a refocusing of the SDG contribution priorities of UP Diliman based on impact and feasibility. SDGs 3, 4, and 5 were identified as possible key focus areas for the university. She also noted the need to address several persistent challenges, such as fragmented data, inconsistent formatting, data validation issues, low awareness of SDG frameworks, repetitive manual tasks, and insufficient documentation. To overcome these obstacles, she recommended the establishment of a centralized data repository, the rollout of awareness and capacity building sessions for faculty members and staff, and the adoption of data validation tools to ensure accuracy and consistency in future submissions.
By way of closing the symposium, UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Maria Vanessa Lusung-Oyzon expressed her gratitude to the faculty, staff, and resource speakers for their participation and knowledge-sharing throughout the event. She cited the 2021–2022 UP Sustainability Report, where UP President Angelo A. Jimenez emphasized the University’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by adding “service” to its core values of honor and excellence. This is a clear affirmation that UP is committed to developing skills, generating actionable knowledge, influencing policies, and crafting solutions that contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the SDGs. Vice Chancellor Lusung-Oyzon then urged the University to intensify its efforts toward these goals and expressed optimism for more collaborative events that engage the UP community in this mission.
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