Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and the University of the Philippines–Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders (UP-CIFAL Philippines) are organizing a three-day training and workshop on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Higher Education from July 16 to 18 at the Teatro Ilocandia and the Center for Flexible Learning.

The training provides an overview of the UN SDGs and how these can be integrated into the core functions of higher education. Topics include social innovation, global action, sustainable communities, peace and partnership, and aligning the goals with academic curricula. It also covers research for development, community-engaged learning, governance, monitoring and evaluation, impact assessment, and the development of a university roadmap.

Serving as speakers are experts from UP-CIFAL Philippines, Ifugao State University, Central Luzon State University, UP Diliman, Marikina Polytechnic College, Saint Louis University, Mabalacat City College, MAPUA University, and MMSU.

Participants of the training and workshop include members of the MMSU Administrative Council, department and program chairs, and student leaders. They will also take part in a series of workshops led by UP-CIFAL, focusing on integrating the SDGs into university operations.

MMSU Vice President for Planning and Strategic Foresight Mee Jay Domingo, representing President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., expressed gratitude to UP-CIFAL Philippines for granting the university's request to hold the training workshop.

“This workshop is a crucial step toward realizing our shared vision: to be more of a service to the communities that we serve, to be more relevant to the needs of our stakeholders, and to be more responsive to the call of our planet,” Dr. Domingo told the participants.

MMSU has been among the top universities in sustainability, but according to Dr. Domingo, this is the first time the university is hosting a training workshop, enhancing UN SDGs’ integration into the university's four main functions: instruction, extension, production, and research.

Meanwhile, Dr. Michelle Palumbarit, UP-CIFAL Philippines director, expressed gratitude to MMSU for collaborating with them for the training workshop.

On July 17, MMSU will launch the SDG Corner at the Center for Flexible Learning to promote the UN goals, reflecting its consistent inclusion in the 601–800 bracket of the 2023 to 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

UP-CIFAL Philippines is an international training center through a cooperation agreement between UP and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. It serves as a national hub for capacity building and research on the UN SDGs.