9TH SPUP IIRC PRE-CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS DATA ANALYTICS TO LEARNING ANALYTICS
May 14, 2026
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SPUP successfully conducted the pre-conference session of its 9th International Interdisciplinary Research Conference (IIRC) on May 14, 2026, at the SNAHS HyFlex Rooms. Anchored on the theme, “Futures Thinking: Smart, Sustainable, and Socially Responsive Research and Innovations,” the activity gathered faculty members, researchers, academic leaders, students, and partner institutions for meaningful discussions on innovation, sustainability, and the role of data analytics in education and research.
The session featured the presentation “Beyond Data: From Data Analytics to Learning Analytics – Rethinking Research, Learning, and Questions in the Digital Age” delivered by Dr. Stephen Redillas, a sustainability advocate and leadership expert affiliated with the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. In his presentation, he emphasized the transformative role of data science, analytics, and emerging technologies in addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development. He explained that data analytics goes beyond collecting information and involves framing problems, structuring data, and interpreting insights to support informed and responsive actions.
Dr. Redillas likewise underscored the importance of maintaining the “human-in-the-loop” in the digital age, emphasizing that technology and analytics should complement human judgment and ethical decision-making rather than replace them. He highlighted that while technology enables research and analytics provide direction, human interpretation remains essential in generating meaningful and socially relevant insights. As he shared during the session, “Technology made the research possible; Data analytics made it meaningful; Human interpretation made it insightful.”
The discussion also explored the growing significance of data analytics and learning analytics in contemporary institutions and educational environments. Dr. Redillas discussed how analytics can support evidence-informed decision-making, innovation, sustainability, and strategic planning. He further highlighted the advantages of learning analytics, including immediate feedback, personalized learning opportunities, real-time instructional adjustments, error diagnosis, and improved student engagement, while also acknowledging challenges related to access, equity, organizational support, and institutional readiness to embrace emerging technologies.
Through insightful discussions and meaningful reflections, participants were encouraged to examine how research, analytics, and technological innovation can contribute to education, governance, business, and community development. The activity reaffirmed SPUP’s continuing commitment to promoting interdisciplinary research, futures thinking, and transformative academic engagements that foster sustainable, ethical, and socially responsive innovation in the digital age.
