Anchored in its mission as a Catholic institution, Saint Louis University (SLU) conducted an orientation in preparation for its Three-Year Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Plan for Academic Years 2025-2028. The meeting, held on 07 July 2025, gathered the SLU heads of offices at the Fr. Francis Gevers Hall, Diego Silang Building, SLU Main Campus.
The SDG plan, rooted in the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) Advocacies and the mandates of the Catholic Church, seeks to equip the SLU community for works of service that embody compassion and Christian spirit.
Executive Assistant to the University President, Prof. Joselito G. Gutierrez, PhD, emphasized the importance of meaningful impact through the integration and implementation of SDGs in the programs and activities of SLU. “As a Catholic university, we serve as an arm of the Church,” he said, highlighting the University’s responsibility to act and think in line with the Catholic mission.
The SDG plans, which will be submitted by 22 July and officially presented in the upcoming suppliers’ meeting on 28 July, aim to target specific SDG key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with the university’s core values and the expertise of the offices.
SLU Vice President for Academic Affairs, Felina P. Espique, PhD, recommended that the plan focuses on targeted SDGs based on the strengths of various Schools and units:
- School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA): SDGs 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
- School of Accountancy, Management, Computing and Information Studies (SAMCIS): SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
- School of Nursing, Allied Health, and Biological Sciences (SONAHBS) and School of Medicine (SOM): SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
- School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) and School of Law (SOL): SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)
Atty. Shellah Yzanne P. Merced, SLU Vice President for Administration, recommended collaboration across units, with support services partnering with academic departments to enhance research and community engagement aligned with the SDGs. Atty. Merced also underscored the potential for matching initiatives with suppliers’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, fostering shared responsibility and impact. On the other hand, SLU Vice President for Mission and Identity, Rev. Fr. Emery Ebumea Mwako, CICM reiterated the alignment of the SDG plan with CICM advocacies.
Bringing the orientation meeting to a close, Mr. Hector L. Martin, Director of the SLU Office of Institutional Development and Quality Assurance (OIDQA), reaffirmed the university’s commitment to aligning the SDGs into the corporate and community culture. “At the end of the, in everything we do, we want to see impact as a university,” he stated.
The three-year SDG plan orientation marked a significant step for SLU in translating its beautiful mission into concrete actions that embody faith, service, and sustainable development.
