Presidents and administrators from some of the 433 higher education institutions (HEIs) in Mindanao vowed to pursue research and extension services that go hand in hand with government efforts to fast-track peace-building and development in Mindanao.
Participants in groups went on to report their action plans on how to make their respective schools responsive to the needs of the communities where they are located, responding to the challenge, no less than President Aquino voiced during his keynote address, Wednesday.
In a message, Betty Cernol-McCann of United Board, Inc staked the support of the private firm in providing technical-training support to the measures that the group wish to undertake.
Fr. Joel Tabora SJ, president of Ateneo de Davao University, in his closing address, reinforced the call for HEIs to heed the clamor to make the academe rooted in the situation of the island-region, reiterating the need to pursue research studies and programs that are viable and relevant foundations of policy-making and program implementations by both the government and the private sector.
Earlier, Fr. Antonio Moreno SJ, AdZU president and Fr. Albert Alejo, assistant to the AdZU president for social development and conference director, both voiced their gratitude of the participants’ attendance and their commitment to the goals and objectives of the said meet.
A city tour and a Mass capped the day’s event.
