SLSU Champions Social Responsibility and Innovation at UNO-R Seminar

Bacolod City, Philippines – Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), led by its President, Dr. Jude Duarte, embarked on a significant academic engagement with the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos, Incorporated (UNO-R) on May 6–7, 2025. The two-day seminar, generously hosted and fully funded by UNO-R, is titled “Bridging Sustainability and Global Excellence: Understanding the Sustainable Development Goals Through the World Ranking Systems.” This collaborative initiative aims to deepen UNO-R’s understanding of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their pivotal role in enhancing institutional performance in global university rankings. 

 

Dr. Duarte led the SLSU delegation and delivered a compelling keynote address, “The Kingfisher’s Call: Social Responsibility and Innovation,” which highlighted the synergy between research-based extension initiatives, collective action, and environmental stewardship. He emphasized the vital role of integrating social responsibility with innovation in higher education to advance both sustainable development and international recognition. Drawing from SLSU’s journey, Dr. Duarte shared strategies and experiences related to navigating prominent ranking frameworks such as the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, the World University Ranking for Innovation (WURI), and the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking. 

 

 

Held at UNO-R’s President’s Hall, the seminar engaged administrators, faculty, and staff in a series of interactive sessions led by the SLSU team. Discussions covered the methodologies, indicators, and application processes of the featured global rankings, along with practical self-assessment tools for institutional improvement. The SLSU delegation included key university figures in internationalization and quality assurance: Dr. Marie Khul C. Langub, Dr. Ingrid M. Uy, Dr. James Brian Flores, Mr. Mark Donald Oja, Ms. Irene Marcel Hufalar-Lagua, Ms. Mona Rea R. Cabalo, Ms. Reinelly Faith Gomba, Ms. Claerchille Jhulia C. Robin-Tan, and Ms. Beverly Ann Isaga. Each member shared specialized insights on aligning institutional strategies with specific SDGs and sustaining progress in global ranking performance. 

 

 

This seminar marks a meaningful step in fostering academic collaboration between SLSU and UNO-R. By its conclusion, UNO-R’s academic and administrative leaders are expected to gain actionable knowledge on aligning their goals with global sustainability frameworks, driving transformative change, and elevating the university’s global standing. SLSU’s involvement affirms its commitment to advancing social responsibility and innovation in higher education—supporting fellow institutions in their shared pursuit of sustainable development and global excellence.