COMPOSTELA – To strengthen the integration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the institution’s culture and practices, Davao de Oro State College welcomed three Indian academics and researchers today, September 14, 2026, for “SDG in Action: Empowering Our Campus Community”.

 

The activity opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the SDG boxes, symbolizing the College’s commitment to advancing the 17 UN SDGs through its academic, research, extension, and institutional initiatives.

 

College President Dr. Lilybeth M. Matunhay welcomed the visiting speakers and participants, describing the engagement as a valuable opportunity for DdOSC to learn from international experts and exchange practices that can strengthen its sustainability efforts.

 

“This engagement allows us to learn from global experiences while sharing our own practices as we work toward a more sustainable and future-ready Higher Education Institution,” stressed Dr. Matunhay.

 

Afterwards, a series of plenary sessions was held at the DdOSC Audio-Visual Room featuring Dr. Tapas Pal, Dr. Sukanta Das, and Dr. Tanay Pandit, who shared their expertise and perspectives on their sustainability practices in their respective fields.

 

Dr. Pal, an Assistant Professor of Geography at Raiganj University, India, discussed the integration of indigenous knowledge in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting its relevance to addressing the climate crisis, disaster management, and heritage tourism.

 

Joining him was Dr. Das, an Assistant Professor of Geography at Dr. Bhupendra Nath Dutta Smriti Mahavidyalaya in West Bengal, who discussed sustainability through the lens of tribal, environmental, and cultural geography.

 

Lastly, Dr. Pandit highlighted the use of Geographic Information Systems in watershed development, demonstrating how geospatial technologies can support more informed and sustainable resource management in line with the SDGs.

 

The morning sessions provided opportunities for the students to learn from the speakers in an open forum, while further discussions with Dr. Pal and Dr. Pandit continued during the afternoon session.

 

Organized by the Internationalization Unit in partnership with the Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight, the activity forms part of the College’s SDG Month Celebration, which runs from September 11 to 30 under the themes “SDG in Action: Empowering Our Campus Community” and “Shaping Sustainable Futures.”

 

The initiative seeks to raise awareness of the SDGs, encourage shared responsibility for sustainability, translate knowledge into campus-based action, and reinforce the College’s commitment to sustainability and global citizenship.