Three STAR trainers, Dr. Dorothy Silva, Dr. Marlon Palbusa, and Ms. Ferina Peralta, represented Saint Louis University (SLU) at the 4th DOST-SEI Project STAR International Conference held on 26-28 November 2025, at the Heritage Hotel Manila, Pasay City. As a CHED-recognized Center of Excellence, SLU continues its commitment to advancing STEM education through active participation in national and global educational activities.
With this year’s theme, “Bridging STEM and Sustainability: Empowering Educators as Nation-Builders,” the international conference was attended by STEM educators, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders from across the Philippines and other countries. The event aimed to equip educators with innovative, research-based strategies to promote quality STEM instruction, relevant pedagogies, and transformative educational leadership, which are aligned with the mission of Project STAR.
One of the SLU trainers, Dr. Dorothy Silva, served as Moderator in the workshop “Design Thinking Amplified by AI for Sustainable Development,” facilitated by UP NISMED experts. Her role proves SLU’s active involvement in advancing frameworks in STEM education, particularly those related to artificial intelligence and sustainable development.
In the three-day conference, plenary sessions and workshops engaged participants in important discussions on climate change, partnerships across educational sectors, gender equity in STEM, and innovations in DRR education. These activities presented the SDGs, like:
- SDG 4 (Quality Education), through research and data-driven approaches to strengthen STEM teaching;
- SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), through technology integration, AI-enhanced pedagogies, and innovative laboratories;
- SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), especially in sessions on DRR education and climate literacy; and
- SDG 13 (Climate Action), through the integration of climate education into STEM curriculum.
The SLU trainers extend their sincere gratitude to the SLU administration (Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD), SLU-STELA, SLU-SAMCIS, SLU-SAS, and DOST-SEI for their continued support in enabling faculty participation in programs that empower educators and promote STEM education in the region. The active engagement of SLU’s STAR trainers reaffirms the University’s mission to quality instruction, sustainable development, and transformative leadership in the Cordillera.
