Sustainable development is rarely solved by one sector alone, and in 2025, the University of the Cordilleras (UC) made a point of convening and joining conversations where government, professional associations, industry and civil society sit at the same table. From nursing conventions to computing congresses and a youth design challenge, UC both initiated and participated in cross-sectoral dialogue about the SDGs.
Health and Nursing Professions: Government, Associations and Academe
January 19, 2025. The Kafagway Nurses Association (PNA-Baguio City Chapter), with the University of Baguio School of Nursing, held its 2025 convention on a sustainable nursing workforce. Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong delivered a message, and Dr. Erlinda C. Palaganas, regional coordinator of the Cordillera Regional Health Research and Development Consortium, gave the keynote. A panel with the Baguio Health Department, Saint Louis University Sacred Heart Medical Center and Baguio General Hospital examined mental health, burnout and workforce sustainability. UC College of Nursing Dean Dr. Judith Odanee G. Magwilang sat on the panel.
March 1, 2025. UC hosted the 1st Scientific Conference on Advancing Interprofessional Education: A Path to Better Care at the UC Auditorium, organized with the Cordillera Association of Nursing Deans and the Philippine Nurses Association–CAR. Dr. Susan Fowler Kerry of the University of Saskatchewan delivered the keynote, with plenaries on the Philippine Qualifications Framework, climate change and public health, and the licensure examination framework. The conference supports SDG 3 and SDG 4.
Water, Energy and the Environment
April 6, 2025. In commemoration of World Water Day, BS Environmental and Sanitary Engineering students joined the Philippine Society of Sanitary Engineers student chapters (PSSE-CAR, PSSE-Baguio and others) for a visit to the Ambuklao Hydroelectric Power Plant, supported by SN Aboitiz and the barangay and plant officials. The activity connected responsible water management with renewable energy (SDG 6, SDG 7).
Research, Computing and Industry Partnerships
April 25–26, 2025. Five UC faculty joined the International Multidisciplinary Research Conference in Baguio City, with paper critiques and workshops led by researchers including Dr. Kamini Shanmugaiah of the University of Wollongong, Australia, supporting SDG 4, SDG 9 and Indicator 17.16.1.
May 7–10, 2025. UC hosted the 25th Philippine Computing Science Congress (PCSC 2025), organized by the Computing Society of the Philippines. More than 200 participants from academic institutions, government agencies and the ICT industry presented research in machine learning, smart systems and computing education.
June 13–14, 2025. UC CITCS faculty joined the iSITE National Professional Conference in Boracay, where a CHED Region IV official presented updated policies, standards and guidelines for IT education, and speakers discussed the Seoul and Washington Accords, AI ethics, cybersecurity and the IT talent gap.
November 27, 2025. The Global Engagements Office brought a professional food scientist to College of Hospitality and Tourism Management students for a lecture on food technology and food safety (SDG 3, SDG 4).
Youth, Innovation and Civil Society
July 25–30, 2025. CCJE’s Dr. Jevilyn Madalang represented the Philippines at the YSEALI Women’s Leadership Academy in Thailand, one of 57 emerging leaders chosen from more than 6,000 applicants across ASEAN and Timor-Leste (SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 10).
November 5–13, 2025. UC College of Engineering faculty took part in Impact Week Philippines 2025 with De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, the German Embassy Manila, international coaches and the City of Baguio. The week closed with the first Impact Week Baguio City 2025 Design Thinking Workshop, where 150 participants in 16 teams pitched solutions across six sustainability tracks, including a rooftop farming idea for Zero Hunger.
SDG Alignment
| SDG | Indicator or target | How UC’s 2025 initiatives align |
| 3 – Good Health and Well-Being | Health workforce, mental health | Nursing conventions and the interprofessional education conference connected government, hospitals and professional associations. |
| 4 – Quality Education | 4.4.1 | Conferences on IT education, research publication and interprofessional learning built skills for research and innovation. |
| 6, 7 – Water and Energy | Water management, renewable energy | PSSE chapters and power plant partners linked students to responsible water and energy use. |
| 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | 9.5.1 | PCSC 2025 and iSITE strengthened research and digital capacity. |
| 17 – Partnerships for the Goals | 17.16.1, 17.17 | UC hosted and joined multi-stakeholder events with government, NGOs, industry and international partners. |
References:
Building a Resilient IT-Enabled Education Ecosystem: Insights from the iSITE National Professional Conference 2025 – CITCS @UC. (2025, June 16). https://citcs.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/06/16/building-a-resilient-it-enabled-education-ecosystem-insights-from-the-isite-national-professional-conference-2025/
CCJE’s Dr. Jevilyn Madalang represents the Philippines at YSEALI Women’s Leadership Academy 2025 – GEO @UC. (2025, August 7). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/08/07/ccjes-dr-jevilyn-madalang-represents-the-philippines-at-yseali-womens-leadership-academy-2025/
GEO Connects Students with Industry Expertise in Food Technology and Safety – GEO @UC. (2025, December 5). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/12/05/geo-connects-students-with-industry-expertise-in-food-technology-and-safety/
Kafagway Nurses Association Holds Annual Convention 2025 – CONAHS @UC. (2025, January 20). https://conahs.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/01/20/kafagway-nurses-association-holds-annual-convention-2025/
UC-COE faculty represents University at Impact Week Philippines 2025, Driving Youth-Led Innovation for a Sustainable Baguio – COE @UC. (2025, November 22). https://coe.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/11/22/uc-coe-faculty-represents-university-at-impact-week-philippines-2025-driving-youth-led-innovation-for-a-sustainable-baguio/
UC-COE Students promote sustainable water use through Ambuklao Hydroelectric Power Plant Educational Visit – COE @UC. (2025, April 10). https://coe.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/04/10/uc-coe-students-promote-sustainable-water-use-through-ambuklao-hydroelectric-power-plant-educational-visit/
UC Faculty join International Multidisciplinary Research Conference: Advancing Scholarship and Global Collaboration – CBA @UC. (2025, April 28). https://cba.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/04/28/uc-faculty-members-sharpen-research-skills-at-the-2025-international-multidisciplinary-research-conference/
University of the Cordilleras hosts 25th Philippine Computing Science Congress (PCSC 2025) – CITCS @UC. (2025, May 10). https://citcs.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/05/10/university-of-the-cordilleras-hosts-25th-philippine-computing-science-congress-pcsc-2025/
University of the Cordilleras hosts 1st Scientific Conference on Interprofessional Education – CONAHS @UC. (2025, March 2). https://conahs.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/03/02/university-of-the-cordilleras-hosts-1st-scientific-conference-on-interprofessional-education/
