In 2024, the University of the Cordilleras (UC) demonstrated a strong institutional commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17.4.1 by embedding sustainability learning across its curriculum, ensuring mandatory SDG-aligned education for all students, and expanding optional SDG-focused opportunities accessible to the wider student body. Through curriculum innovation, community engagement, international partnerships, and multi-sectoral collaboration, UC fostered a culture of sustainability literacy, global citizenship, and interdisciplinary SDG learning.
EDUCATION INTEGRATED ACROSS THE FULL CURRICULUM
On December 2024, UC launched the Master of Science in GeoDRR, a multi-country Erasmus+ graduate program that embeds SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) directly into its curriculum through interdisciplinary instruction, scientific modeling, and community-based hazard assessment. Designed to produce climate-resilient professionals capable of addressing disaster risk at local and international levels, the program integrates SDG principles into every component which includes teaching, research, and applied fieldwork.
On September 2024, the Rights2Life initiative, implemented in collaboration with Ghent University, strengthened the criminology and social science curriculum by integrating SDG 16 principles on human rights, justice reform, and rule of law into formal academic instruction. The program engaged students in capacity building, comparative justice analysis, and research-based advocacy, ensuring that SDG-aligned governance, human rights education, and justice frameworks were built directly into course discussions, faculty training, and academic outputs.
On October 3, 2024, the Securing the Cyber Domain Initiative (SCDI) advanced UC’s commitment to SDG-aligned curriculum development by integrating cybersecurity, digital ethics, and national resilience into the IT education framework. Conducted with the University of Cincinnati, CHED, and FSTP, the initiative blended technical training with social science perspectives to prepare students for real-world cyber threats while promoting SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
On November 16, 2024, UC strengthened sustainability integration within its engineering programs through Project DANUM, which embeds SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action) into academic research, fieldwork, and capstone design. Highlighted during its turnover to LGUs in Baguio, Tuba, and Itogon, the project integrates GIS-based analysis, watershed assessment, and environmental planning directly into formal coursework, making sustainability an essential component of student learning.
On November 15, 2024, UC-CON advanced SDG-aligned health education through Project SHIP, a collaboration with the University of North Carolina–Charlotte aimed at institutionalizing HIV prevention and community health literacy within the nursing curriculum. By embedding SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 4.7 (Education for Sustainable Development) into required RLE activities, coursework, and student research, the program strengthens evidence-based competencies in prevention, advocacy, and public health engagement.
MANDATORY EDUCATION FOR ALL
UC hosted its 6th Technopreneurship Demo Day, a culminating event for the mandatory university-wide course Techno100, which all UC students are required to complete. This activity embeds SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 9 (Industry and Innovation), and SDG 17 (Partnerships) into essential student learning by requiring them to develop sustainable, innovative solutions as part of their academic progression. Because Technopreneurship is compulsory across colleges, it exemplifies mandatory SDG education for all students.
OPTIONAL SDG EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS
On February 14, 2024, UC’s UYAHH program partnered with FPOP to conduct a voluntary HIV screening and counseling event promoting SDG 3 (Health) and SDG 4.7 (SDG education) through awareness, prevention, and reproductive health literacy. This event offered optional SDG learning accessible to any student who chose to participate, enriching their understanding of sexual health, stigma reduction, and public health advocacy outside of the formal curriculum.
On August 23, 2024, UC-CON formalized an MoU with Universitas Katolik Indonesia Santu Paulus Ruteng and delivered a keynote seminar on maternal and child health, gender equality, and innovations in healthcare education. This activity provides optional SDG learning opportunities such as attending international seminars, cultural exchanges, and academic presentations open to interested students and faculty, fulfilling the optional education criterion.
On October 4–5, 2024, UC BioSoc’s partnership with BSU’s Forestry Stewardship and Extension Club enabled voluntary participation in environmental workshops and conservation initiatives promoting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). This event provides open, optional SDG education through sustainability-focused activities that any interested student may join, fulfilling the optional learning criterion.
On November 22, 2024, At the UC-CEA Research Colloquium, students and faculty voluntarily participated in presentations and discussions on sustainable urban development, green infrastructure, and digital innovation aligned with SDG 4, SDG 9, and SDG 11. This event offers optional SDG education, enabling students to gain interdisciplinary sustainability insights and engage with research that advances SDG-driven solutions for Baguio City.
| SDG | Indicator | How the University’s Initiatives Align |
| 3 – Good Health and Well-Being | 3.3 – End epidemics of AIDS and other communicable diseases | HIV Screening & Counseling (Feb 14, 2024) offered voluntary SDG 3 health education, stigma reduction training, and safe-sex awareness open to all students, strengthening youth participation in public health advocacy. |
| 4 – Quality Education | 4.4 – Increase number of youth with relevant skills for work | SCDI Cybersecurity Training (Oct 3, 2024) integrates digital safety, cyber resilience, and national security concepts into IT instruction, strengthening student competencies in SDG 4 and SDG 16 within the curriculum.UC-CEA Research Colloquium (Nov 22, 2024) offered voluntary participation in sustainability research discussions and innovation dialogues, expanding SDG learning opportunities outside the curriculum. |
| 4.7 – Ensure learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development | Project SHIP integrated HIV prevention, public health advocacy, and SDG health literacy into the formal UC-CON curriculum through RLE, coursework, and research, embedding SDG 3 and SDG 4.7 into nursing education. | |
| 5 – Gender Equality | 5.6 – Ensure access to reproductive health and education | UC-CON × Santu Paulus Ruteng (Aug 23, 2024) provided optional learning on maternal health, gender equality, and health education through international seminars accessible to faculty and students. |
| 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.5 – Implement integrated water resource management | Project DANUM embeds watershed management, GIS analysis, environmental planning, and climate action content into engineering coursework, aligning academic instruction with SDG 6, SDG 11, and SDG 13. |
| 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.3 – Promote development-oriented policies supporting entrepreneurship and innovation | Technopreneurship (Techno100) Mandatory Course (March 2024) requires all UC students to apply innovation, sustainability, and business planning concepts, ensuring university-wide SDG-linked entrepreneurial education. |
| 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.5 – Reduce disaster-related impacts | MS GeoDRR Program embeds disaster risk reduction, hazard modeling, and resilience planning into graduate-level instruction, producing professionals who address climate-driven risks using SDG-based frameworks. |
| 13 – Climate Action | 13.3 – Improve education and awareness on climate change | BioSoc × BSU FSEC Partnership (Oct 5, 2024) provided optional environmental workshops and forestry conservation activities accessible to interested students, promoting SDG 13 and SDG 15 awareness. |
| 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.A – Strengthen national institutions | Rights2Life integrates human rights, justice reform, and rule-of-law principles into criminology instruction and research, strengthening academic engagement with SDG 16 within formal program delivery. |
| 17 – Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17 – Promote public, private, and civil society partnerships | All optional SDG activities—including HIV awareness events, international nursing seminars, environmental partnerships, and research colloquia—strengthened UC’s engagement with government agencies, NGOs, and international partners. |
References:
UC × UNC Charlotte – Project SHIP (HIV Prevention & Education). Retrieved from https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/11/15/uc-con-and-university-of-north-carolina-charlotte-explore-collaboration-for-project-ship/
Master of Science in GeoDRR now offered at UC starting January 2025. Retrieved from https://web.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/12/06/master-of-science-in-geodrr-now-offered-at-uc-starting-january-2025/
Rights2Life: Criminal Justice Reform with Ghent University. Retrieved from https://rights2life.uc-bcf.edu.ph/
Project DANUM – Water Security & Environmental Decision Support. Retrieved from https://cte.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/01/04/cultivating-change-life-on-land-and-global-sustainability-goals/
SCDI – Securing the Cyber Domain Initiative (w/ University of Cincinnati). Retrieved from https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/10/03/uc-leads-international-cybersecurity-training-with-university-of-cincinnati-for-afp-personnel/
Technopreneurship. Retrieved from https://citcs.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/03/04/6th-technopreneurship-demo-day/#:~:text=6th%20Technopreneurship%20Demo%20Day%20%E2%80%93%20CITCS,for%20Submissions:%20March%2019%2C%202024 and https://www.uc-bcf.edu.ph/research/tbi
UC Nursing: HIV Screening & Counseling Education (FPOP Event). Retrieved from https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/02/15/empowering-youth-through-sexual-health-awareness-a-successful-event-on-hiv-screening-and-counseling/
BioSoc × BSU FSEC Environmental Partnership. Retrieved from https://cas.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/10/05/uc-biosoc-partners-with-bsu-fsec/
UC-CEA / CAFA Sustainability & Environmental Architecture Events. Retrieved from https://cafa.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/11/28/uc-cea-joins-research-colloquium-2024-innovating-together-for-a-sustainable-future/
Sexual Health Awareness Events (Optional participation). Retrieved from https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/02/15/empowering-youth-through-sexual-health-awareness-a-successful-event-on-hiv-screening-and-counseling/
UC College of Nursing Strengthens International Ties with Universitas Katolik Indonesia Santu Paulus Ruteng. Retrieved from https://con.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2024/08/26/uc-con-dean-strengthens-ties-with-indonesian-partner-and-inspires-future-nurses-at-international-seminar/
