US Gov funds SLSU's participation in the "EdTech Event of the Year"
The U.S. Department of State, through its educational exchange initiatives, has funded the participation of a representative from Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) in the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference 2026, widely recognized as the world's premier educational technology gathering and often referred to as the "EdTech Event of the Year."
Held in Orlando, Florida, the conference brought together thousands of educators, researchers, policymakers, technology innovators, and education leaders from across the globe to explore emerging trends, transformative practices, and groundbreaking innovations in teaching and learning. Through this opportunity, SLSU joined an international community committed to shaping the future of education through technology.
SLSU's participation was made possible through the support of the U.S. Department of State's Regional English Language Office (RELO) under the Office of the English Language Programs (OELP) initiative. The exchange provided selected educators with the opportunity to engage in professional learning experiences, attend expert-led sessions, collaborate with global educators, and gain firsthand exposure to cutting-edge educational technologies.
As the lone representative of SLSU and the entire Philippines, Mr. Exekiel Ed A. Elizan, under the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, participated in a series of workshops, presentations, and networking events focused on educational innovation, digital learning, artificial intelligence, and equitable technology integration.
One of the highlights of the conference was his presentation entitled "Offline Engagement: Incorporating Tech-Founded Strategies in a Low-Resource Context," which showcased practical and innovative approaches to technology-enhanced learning in rural and resource-constrained educational settings. The presentation emphasized that meaningful technology integration is not solely dependent on internet connectivity or advanced infrastructure but on contextualized, learner-centered solutions that address local realities.
"The experience reaffirmed that innovation is not defined by the sophistication of technology available, but by how effectively educators adapt technology to serve their learners," Elizan shared. "As educators from developing contexts, we have valuable insights to contribute to global conversations on educational technology."
Beyond the conference sessions, participation in ISTE 2026 enabled the university representative to build professional connections with educators and institutions from different countries, opening opportunities for future collaborations, knowledge exchange, and international partnerships.