Boracay, Aklan - Mabalacat City College (MCC), recognized as a Regional Hub for Conference on Global Citizenship Education (GCED) Cooperation Centre, took part in the inaugural International Research Conference on Global Citizenship Education (GCED) from October 4 to 6, 2023 at the Paradise Garden Resort Hotel and Convention Center. The event aimed to foster discussions among GCED advocates, experts, researchers, and policymakers.
The conference, themed "Traversing Global Citizenship Education in the New Normal: From Research Innovations to Impactful Actions", is first of its kind in both the Philippines and Southeast Asia, and was organized by the GCED Cooperation Centre of Philippine Normal University. The collaboration included esteemed partners such as the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU) in South Korea and received the backing of both the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education.
Representing MCC, Vice President for Global Relations, Opportunities, and Workforce Development and the MCC GCED Regional Hub Focal Person Mr. Raymond John Vergara, engaged in dialogue alongside focal representatives from other regions. The college also showcased its research, titled "The Philippine Study Tour: A Mechanism to Strengthen Global Cultural Education", presented by MCC Director of the Center for Community Research and Innovation Mr. James Darwin Lagman, and faculty from the Institute of Arts and Sciences Ms. Arcelyn Adriano. The research spotlighted MCC’s flourishing Education Tourism Program, aimed to enhance 21st-century intercultural competencies. Mr. Lagman and Ms. Adriano also joined several workshops focused on GCED whole school approach. In the said workshops, they were able to share frameworks of GCED and Internationalization strategies using a community college principle.
The conference provided a platform to discuss a number of topics, ranging from GCED pedagogies and emerging discourses to partnerships for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Notable personalities, such as Dr. Hyun Mook Lim from APCEIU and Mr. Ivan Anthony Henares of UNESCO, were in attendance. Furthermore, MCC seized the opportunity to strengthen ties with Philippine Normal University, recalling their prior collaborations in GCED initiatives, including a significant GCED Roadshow in 2018.
Concluding the gathering, Deputy Director of the GCC Mr. Carl Dellomos presented the GCED Roadmap for Philippine Institutions. He expressed gratitude to all participants and emphasized the importance of united efforts to achieve the visions of Global Citizenship Education. Looking optimistic, Dr. Serafin Arviola, Director of GCC extended an invitation to the subsequent International Research Conference on GCED, scheduled for next year in Malaysia.
By participating in such conferences, Mabalacat City College shows its commitment in collaborating with local and global institutions and its dedication in providing quality education with emphasis on global citizenship.
