QCU Showcases SDG Leadership at CHED-NCR Internationalization Conference
Quezon City University (QCU) reinforced its commitment to sustainable development and global engagement as it shared the University’s best practices in integrating the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the Likas-kayang Bukas: NCR International Relations Officers (IROs) General Assembly and Internationalization Conference on Sustainable Development Goals held on June 26, 2026, at the Justo Albert Auditorium of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.
Organized by the NCR Engagement for Regional and International Partnership and Ties (eNCRipt) in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education–National Capital Region (CHED-NCR), the conference gathered International Relations Officers, sustainability leaders, higher education executives, faculty members, and institutional stakeholders across Metro Manila to strengthen collaboration in advancing internationalization, research, innovation, and sustainable development in Philippine higher education.
Representing QCU, Mr. Angelito P. Bautista Jr., LPT, MAComm, Director of the Research Management Office, served as one of the invited panel speakers during Session 4: “The SDG-Ready University: Integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals into Higher Education Internationalization, Curricula, and Institutional Capacity for Societal Impact.”
The panel brought together experts from leading higher education institutions, including the University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas, to discuss how universities can effectively embed sustainability into their academic programs, institutional strategies, and internationalization initiatives.
During the discussion, Bautista highlighted QCU’s journey toward becoming an SDG-ready university by integrating sustainability across research, instruction, extension, innovation, governance, and community engagement. He emphasized that, as a local government university, QCU leverages its close partnership with the Quezon City Government to address community needs while pursuing international collaborations that create meaningful opportunities for faculty members and students.
The presentation featured several of the University’s flagship initiatives, including its urban agriculture and food security programs, community-based education and extension projects, faculty and student research initiatives, robotics and technology innovations, international academic partnerships, and institution-wide sustainability programs. These initiatives demonstrate how QCU addresses local challenges while contributing to broader regional and global sustainable development goals.
Bautista also underscored that a truly SDG-ready university goes beyond conducting activities tagged with the SDGs. Instead, sustainability should be embedded within institutional systems, supported by measurable outcomes, strategic partnerships, and long-term commitments that create meaningful impact for students, communities, and society.
The conference also featured discussions on the Philippine Internationalization Roadmap, CHED funding opportunities for SDG-driven research and innovation, and the role of strategic partnerships in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. A memorandum of agreement was likewise signed among CHED-NCR, eNCRipt, and the United Nations Association of the Philippines to strengthen collaboration among higher education institutions and key stakeholders in advancing sustainable development and internationalization.
The event concluded with the inaugural NCR IROs General Assembly, which formally introduced eNCRipt as a regional network dedicated to fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and alignment with CHED’s internationalization agenda among higher education institutions in the National Capital Region.
QCU’s participation in the conference reflects the University’s continuing commitment to advancing sustainability, strengthening international partnerships, and delivering innovative, community-centered programs that contribute to national development and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
#1QCU
#QCURISE
#QCUWeRISEtogether
