PANABO CITY — Davao del Norte State College (DNSC), through its Institute of Advanced Studies (IAdS), mounted the 2nd IAdS Research Colloquium, CONVERGENCE 2025, on June 21, 2025, with the theme “Global Frontiers, Local Roots: Advancing Education and Innovation through Internationalization”. Held at the DNSC Audio-Visual Room and various parallel session venues, the colloquium served as a platform for graduate students to present their research outputs, sharpen their academic rigor, and engage in global conversations on locally anchored scholarship.
Designed as a culminating academic event, CONVERGENCE 2025 gathered thesis and dissertation students from across IAdS programs: Educational Management, Science Teaching, Fisheries Management, Marine Biodiversity, Information Technology, and Public Affairs.
In her opening message, Dr. Nickel Jean S. Lagare-Sastine, Dean of the Institute of Advanced Studies, described the colloquium as both a celebration of research milestones and a transformative step toward building a community of reflective, impactful, and globally minded scholar-practitioners. She stressed that disseminating research is not an end point but a crucial part of the cycle of academic inquiry and social contribution.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Erwin Martinez Faller, Academic Director of Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc., and a recognized leader in transnational academic collaboration. His lecture grounded the theme in real-world applications, advocating for stronger international research linkages, cross-border partnerships, and publication in global platforms. He urged graduate students to view their research not only as academic work but as potential catalysts for community transformation, policy influence, and global discourse.
Following the plenary, seven parallel sessions were conducted, organized into thematic research clusters:
- Leadership and Management in Education (PhDEM, MAEM, MPA)
- Innovation and Information Technology (MIT)
- Education and Learning in Science and Mathematics (MST-Bio, MST-Math)
- Science Education and Aquatic Biodiversity (MST-Bio, MSMB, MFM)
Each session featured a curated lineup of student presenters, whose work was evaluated by both internal and external reactors from reputable higher education institutions across the region. The discussions fostered robust peer learning, constructive critique, and meaningful linkages among researchers from various disciplines. Program chairpersons moderated the sessions to ensure alignment with research ethics and academic standards.
More Photos:
