Affirming its staunch commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) programs, Saint Louis University (SLU), through its President, Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, participated in the 2026 Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) General Assembly and Conference held on 13 November 2026 at De La Salle University (DLSU), Manila.
Themed “Bridging the Gaps: Accelerating the SDGs in the Philippines and ASEAN,” the assembly, organized by SDSN Philippines and DLSU, convened academic leaders to confront pressing implementation challenges in the 2030 Agenda.
During the conference, SDSN Philippines officials explored actionable strategies for universities to serve as premier knowledge partners—leveraging interdisciplinary research, education, innovation, and community engagement to inform public policy and deliver locally tailored sustainability solutions.
Joining university presidents and key officials from across the SDSN Philippines network, Fr. Sales participated in high-level discussions and collaborative sessions to strengthen the role of higher education institutions in driving sustainable development across the country and Southeast Asia, with SDSN President Professor Jeffrey Sachs as the main speaker.
The active involvement of SLU in this general assembly and conference demonstrates its heightened commitment to promoting and strengthening SDGs throughout the university. By actively contributing to national academic dialogues and forging stronger ties with peer institutions, SLU continues to elevate its institutional initiatives, ensuring that sustainability principles are deeply embedded in academic curricula, campus operations, and community extension projects.
Furthermore, SLU’s engagement in the 2026 SDSN gathering is firmly aligned with the university’s core institutional thrust on the Integrity of Creation and its university-wide programs targeting all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through sustained leadership and active participation in national and regional sustainability networks, SLU reaffirms its dedication to ecological stewardship, transformative education, and collaborative action for a more resilient and equitable future. (Article by Joselito Gutierrez, PhD)
