By Kathrina Antonio

Dr. Nathaniel R. Alibuyog, vice president for Research, Development, and Innovation of MMSU, represented the university at the Technology Leadership Summit 2024 from October 8 to 9 in Chennai, India. Organized by the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), the summit brought together global leaders, experts, and innovators to explore the latest trends and breakthroughs in technology and education.

With its theme, “Technology and Leadership towards 2035: Global Perspectives”, the event covered topics on the national perspective in technology, industry perspective on the aspirations of technology in 2035, teaching and learning perspective on the leadership in technology development, and academic perspective on the human talent transformation.

During the summit, Dr. Alibuyog presented his talk titled “Global Innovation through Higher Education: Empowering Global Citizens in the Philippines for Sustainable Development,” focusing on MMSU’s journey toward internationalization, the MMSU CARES framework for global citizenship and sustainable global competence among faculty and students through research and development.

Furthermore, he also highlighted MMSU’s initiatives in the fields of smart agriculture, renewable energy, and digital transformation. He emphasized the university’s dedication to fostering innovation-driven research addressing local and global challenges.

“By fostering innovative ecosystems within universities, supporting startups, and driving interdisciplinary research, we can develop solutions that are not only technologically advanced but also inclusive and sustainable,” he said.

In addition, Dr. Alibuyog awarded a plaque of appreciation to VIT Chancellor Dr. G. Viswanathan, a former Parliamentarian and Minister in Tamil Nadu. In receiving the plaque, Chancellor Viswanathan remarked, “We are deeply honored to collaborate with institutions like MMSU in advancing technological innovation and education on a global scale. Together, we can inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators.”

Dr. Alibuyog engaged with representatives from leading universities and technology firms to explore opportunities for joint research initiatives and academic exchanges. This aligns with MMSU’s strategic vision to broaden its international footprint and contribute to global knowledge exchange.

Among the participants were academic and business leaders from 15 countries, including Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

Founded in 1984, VIT provides quality higher education and established over 500 partnerships across the globe. Currently, the institution offers 34 undergraduate, 32 postgraduate, and 9 integrated programs.