By Eliseo F. Huesca Jr., Vice President for Research, Extension, and Production
PANABO CITY – Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) partnered with Hiroshima University for the recently concluded 4th Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS) Conference, held at De La Salle University (DLSU) – Manila from March 5-7, 2025.
Building on its unique position as the sole Philippine institutional partner in the previous year, DNSC broadened its collaborative reach this year, joining forces with DLSU. This strengthened partnership highlights DNSC’s increasing influence within the international academic community, particularly in the critical areas of peace and sustainability.
The conference, themed “Achieving Peaceful and Sustainable Futures”, marked the 10th anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing a vital forum for evaluating progress and outlining future directions. DNSC’s engagement went far beyond mere partnership.
Faculty members, Prof. Eliseo F. Huesca, Jr., Associate Professor Leo Rayon, Jr., and Associate Professor Charlo Bianci Guray, served as key contributors to the Scientific Committee and led discussions as session chairs across various panels. They were joined by Assistant Professor Daniel Fritz Silvallana, currently a doctoral candidate at Deakin University, Australia, who also lent his expertise as a session chair.
The conference featured prominent keynote speakers, including Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and H.E. Commissioner Prof. Dr. Alvin Culaba, Commissioner on Science and Technology at the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines. Their insightful presentations offered invaluable perspectives on the urgent need for global cooperation in achieving lasting peace and sustainability.
DNSC’s continued involvement in the NERPS Conference underscores its unwavering commitment to cultivating international academic collaborations and contributing to the global conversation on vital issues like peace and sustainability. The institution remains dedicated to empowering its faculty and researchers to participate in impactful and strategic initiatives that drive positive change within the region and beyond.
