“Renewable Energy and Renewing Our Commitments to the SDGs Through Capacity Building: Education Delivery and Engaged Research with Remote Communities Under COVID-19″
Most participants in the CHED-EduCanada Webinar Series Connecting Philippine Higher Education with Canadian Institutions in the New Normal on “Renewable Energy and Renewing Our Commitments to the SDGs Through Capacity Building: Education Delivery and Engaged Research with Remote Communities Under COVID-19” on January 29, 2021 were from Cebu Technological University (CTU).
CTU focal persons from the CTU campuses and other interested faculty joined the webinar:
Dr. Doris O. Gascon, University Director for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI);
Prof. Aida Verga V. Un, Chairperson for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI) for the College of Arts and Sciences;
Engr. Ronald M. Galindo, Chairperson for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI) for the College of Engineering;
Dr. Marjorie B. Añero, Chairperson for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI) for the College of Education;
Dr. Charena J. Castro, Chairperson for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI) for the College of Technology;
Engr. Nereogilbert Dela Cruz, Chairperson for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI) for the College of Management and Entrepreneurship;
Dr. Alma Magno, Chairperson for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI), CTU-CCMC;
Dr. Andrea A. Matildo, Chairperson for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI), CTU Barili;
Prof. Carmencita D. Quiño, Chairperson for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI), CTU Danao;
Dr. Jihan U. Justo, Chairperson for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI), CTU Daanbantayan;
Dr. Vincent S. Borres, Chairperson for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI), CTU San Francisco;
Prof. Mydah Kabingue, CAS Chairperson for Development Communication, CTU Main;
Prof. Jessa U. Rio, College of Agriculture, CTU Barili;
Prof. Danilo Libradilla, Faculty Vice President, CTU Barili;
Prof. Zyra P. Dionson, CTU Danao Faculty; and
Ms. Glezzyl C. Resuelo, Internationalization Officer.
On the said online meeting, Dr. Greg Poelzer, a professor from the University of Saskatchewan (USask)’s School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS) shared and led the presentation on innovative education delivery and research and development on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 7, Clean Energy, Renewable and Affordable Energy.
Dr. Poelzer is a passionate leader and advocate of the critical role of publicly engaged scholars and for capacity-building in Indigenous and remote communities. He has led the way of the development of programming for distance delivery to Indigenous northern communities across Canada and internationally.
In addition, USask as one of the top research-intensive universities in Canada joined and spearheaded the other 17 communities and utilities from Alaska, Canada, Norway and Sweden to work on the “Community and Appropriate Sustainable Energy Security (CASES)” project to examine energy futures and evaluate energy options by co-creating knowledge and research, contributing international best-practices and building sister-communities, creating energy planning toolkits and a platform of an on-line Energy Gateway information.
Further, to lead the community energy planning in remote Northern and Indigenous communities, USask’s School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS) have successfully launched a Master of sustainability in Energy Security, modeled to provide training to future generations headed by Dr. Poelzer.
Dr. Galindo (College of Engineering Chair for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration/University Director for Innovation, Resource Generation and Industry Linkages) said that “The role of the university is to co-create and share the knowledge, understand the capacity to design, implement, and manage renewable energy systems that support and enhance economic values for Northern communities. And, according to the speaker, there is a need for us to have research collaboration among universities”.
“SDG # 7 may not be attained soon, but it needs investments in energy efficiency proportional to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and substantial amount of foreign direct investment in financial transfer for infrastructure and technology to sustainable development services (SDG7, 7.b.1)”, Dr. Galindo added.
Other speakers from the USask’s School of Environment and Sustainability include: Dr. Meghna Ramaswamy, Director of the International Office in the Office of the Vice-President of Research) who spoke about the Overview of Internationalization Agenda and Commitment Partnership Interests in the Philippines on Clean, Renewable and Affordable (SD17 and SDG7); and Dr. Karsten Liber (Interim Executive Director).
Also, it was enjoined by Commissioner Dr. Aldrin Darilag (on behalf of CHED Chairperson Prospero de Vera) from the Commission on Higher Education; The Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines, His Excellency Peter Macarthur; and Ms. Angel Cachuela (Trade Commissioner who hosted the webinar).
Prior this year, a CHED-EduCanada Webinar Series was also convened last September 25, 2020 that tackled on “United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Medicine’s Social Responsiveness in Turbulent Times”.