The third day of SPUP’s 4th International Interdisciplinary Research Conference on December 15, 2019 propelled the advancement of strategies and advocacies pertinent to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The session of Dr. Yazrina Yahya (Director of Corporate Communication Center, National University of Malaysia), on “Internationalization and Transnational Education: Innovative and Collaborative Strategies and Models” opened the final day of the academic gathering. She emphasized that transnational education is rapidly growing as it is delivered through a wide variety of programmes and platforms accessible to students of today. Moreover, she presented internationalization of education as changing the landscape of higher education tailored to meet the needs and interests of a higher education institution. She challenged the participants to bring their country to the world or bring the world to their respective country.
Dr. Matin Royeen (Consultant, Rush University Medical Center and Alliance Global Solutions in Chicago) promoted “Peace Education and Intercultural Understanding in a Globalized Society” in the afternoon plenary session. He highlighted the various ways of achieving peace. These were creating harmonious relationship with oneself and the world; understanding and accepting differences; integrating peace education; and having healthy people in order to have a healthy society.
A panel discussion on “New Technologies in the Delivery of Adult and Lifelong Learning” capped the activities of the day. The discussants were Dr. Rene Bersoto (Consultant, Asian Consulting and Training Group and Asian Institute of Management), Mr. James Moore, MSc TESOL (Educational Consultant in Brunei, Egypt, Taiwan and Oman) and Mr. Mc Allen Reonel Sebastian Cacacho, MCP, CNDA (Founder, HackTheNorth.ph and Cyber Security Engineer). Moderated by Dr. Jesus Pizarro (Associate Dean, SPUP Graduate School), the panel provided an overview of adult and lifelong learning as a global educational endeavor, learner-centered learning for everyone, regardless of age, race or class, and, educational opportunities for professionals working with older adults. Moreover, they expounded on the importance of technology integration in the different models for adult and lifelong learning opportunities like the Open University, Executive Programs, Professional Development and the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accredited Program (ETEEAP) in the Philippines.
The last day also included parallel research presentations in various areas of disciplines and the Signing of Memorandum of Agreement with new partner institutions from Indonesia: STIKES Dirgahayu and POLTEKES Malang.
The synthesis of the conference by Dr. Agripina Maribbay (SPUP Vice President for Academics) signaled the conclusion of SPUP’s IIRC4. It was formally closed by an ecumenical prayer and blessing by SPUP Christian Formation.
