Paving the way for global discussions in advancing the 17 UN SDGs through social innovation, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) hosted the 2024 International Conference on UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and Social Innovation (ICUNSSI) on September 18 and continuing until tomorrow, September 19, reflecting the institute’s continued commitment in identifying innovative solutions to global issues.
In partnership with the Yuchengco Center, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), Association of IIT Alumni Foundation Incorporated (AIITAFI), Samahang Pisika ng Visayas at Mindanao, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, Local Government of Iligan, MSU-General Santos, and MSU-Marawi, ICUNSSI emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach through its theme, “Belongingness and Interconnectedness: Magnifying Development and Innovation.”
During the inaugural day, Dr. Vincenzo Bollentino, Director of the Resilient Communities Program at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, United States, delivered his keynote address, underscoring the importance of a sustainability-focused agenda.
Discussing the need for targeted interventions that empower communities and drive changes in practices to achieve more effective outcomes, he urged MSU-IIT to continue advancing its efforts in combating climate change, emphasizing the importance of making meaningful progress.
With eight plenary sessions featuring speakers from the United States, China, Indonesia, Brunei, and Thailand; and four concurrent sessions encompassing 279 paper presentations, this two-day conference highlights recent research and initiatives contributed by researchers and community extension workers from Regions 1-12, BARMM, CAR, and NCR, as well as from eight countries.
Sweet Patrice Uljer, a 2024 graduate of BS Economics from MSU-IIT, was one of the participants who submitted their paper. Her group thesis entitled, “The Determinants of Child Malnutrition in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from the Year 2010-2020,” was anchored on SDG 2 on Zero Hunger and SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being.
In an interview, Uljer shared that she believes the conference is crucial for advancing the UN SDGs because it gives researchers a platform to present insights that are directly linked to these goals. She pointed out that achieving the SDGs would need more than just research, requiring actionable plans and active involvement from government officials to put these findings into practice.
Uljer also noted that involving the international community, such in the case of international conferences like the ICUNSSI can be beneficial, as sharing perspectives and research can help other countries address specific issues like malnutrition through collaborative knowledge sharing.
The theme for ICUNSSI 2024 is structured into three tracks, each focusing on specific areas aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first track, Well-Being, encompasses goals aimed at improving quality of life, including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
The second track, Economics, focuses on promoting inclusive economic growth and sustainability through Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Partnerships for the Goals. Meanwhile, the third track, Environment, addresses critical environmental concerns, highlighting Climate Action, Life on Land, and Life Below Water.
These tracks collectively underscore the conference’s dedication to multidisciplinary approaches in advancing sustainable development and social innovation.
Following paper presentations, selected studies are set to be endorsed to the following journals for publication: Sustainable Engineering and Innovation Journal (Scopus-Indexed), Heritage and Sustainable Development Journal (Scopus-Indexed), Asia-Pacific Journal of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, Asia-Pacific Journal of Social Innovation, and Langkit: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities.
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