QCU President Dr. Atienza serves as a panelist during the USAID-EDC Regional Asia Summit on Youth Employment and Green and Blue Economies
The Quezon City University played a prominent part in the Regional Asia Summit on Youth Employment in Green and Blue Economies after Dr. Theresita V. Atienza, QCU President, was invited as one of the panelists on “The Role of Education Institutions in Training for the Green and Blue Economies,” held on April 26, 2023, at the Makati Diamond Residences, Legazpi Village, Makati City.
Organized by the Education Development Center (EDC), the event focused on introducing the “Our World, Our Work” initiative, which is a 10-year program spearheaded by EDC that seeks to accelerate youth employment and self-employment in the green and blue (G&B) economies. It aims to integrate young people into the G&B economies and empower them toward climate action.
The summit was attended by high-level officials from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and EDC, including Liesbet Steer, EDC President and CEO; Mr. Ryan Washburn, USAID Mission Director to the Philippines; Assistant Secretary. G. H. Ambat of the Department of Education-Alternative Learning System; and representatives from different education institutions, private organizations, and key international partners.
Woochung Um, Managing Director at the Asian Development Bank, and Usec. Carlos Primo David, Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, delivered the keynote speeches, which focused on the challenge of climate change and how youth can lead the response.
In her talk, Dr. Atienza discussed the urban agriculture initiatives of Quezon City that complement the efforts of QCU. She also emphasized the value of “ultra-local” in Quezon City, where the current administration, led by Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy” G. Belmonte, has committed to ensuring that all initiatives and projects are translated and cascaded into the district and barangay levels. Such a framework helps ensure that the youth and QCitizens in the city become more productive and contribute well to the development and progress of the whole city.
Dr. Atienza was joined by Marcial Amaro, Jr., CESO III, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Foreign Assisted and Special Projects; Concurrent Director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Mr. Edward M. Dela Rosa, Chief TESD Specialist, Technology Research and Development Division, National Institute for Technical Education and Skills Development, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; and Ms. Cherry Casuga and Mr. Joshua Moreno, founders and Youth TVET Trainor, Casuga Integrated School, Davao City.
Two other panel discussions were held during the one-day event for the respective sectors, which focused on “Strategies for Supporting the Growth of Blue and Green Jobs in Evolving Economic Sectors” and “Inclusive Green and Blue Economies.” Another small group discussion was conducted that focused on “Addressing Gaps and Opportunities in the Green and Blue Economies: Strategies for Action and How Youth Can Be Engaged.”
Approximately 80 participants attended the event, which served as a platform for engaging discussions and inspired learning between the leaders and champions of different sectors of industries and government whose sole agenda is to create a sustainable future for the next generations.
