MALITA, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL — The Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST), through its Office of Internationalization and External Linkages (OIEL), strengthened its commitment to sustainable development and international academic collaboration through the In-House Seminar-Workshop: Advancing the SDGs Through Graduate Education: Innovation in Business, Education, and Marine Sciences held on September 12, 2026, at the SPAMAST Founders Hall. The activity brought together SPAMAST academic leaders, faculty members, and visiting scholars from Raiganj University, India, for discussions on the role of graduate education, research, and emerging technologies in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The learning sessions featured three visiting experts from Raiganj University who shared perspectives and applications relevant to sustainable development. Dr. Sukanta Das, Assistant Professor of Geography, discussed the responsibility of students in advancing the SDGs and emphasized the role of learners in addressing pressing social and environmental concerns. Mr. Tanay Pandit, Research Scholar in the Department of Geography, presented the use of satellite imagery in observing and analyzing land-use changes. Dr. Tapas Pal, Assistant Professor of Geography, discussed geospatial drone technology for environmental monitoring and sustainable development. The sessions allowed participants to examine how geospatial technologies and graduate-level learning can support research, environmental assessment, and informed decision-making. The program also included group activities, presentation of outputs, feedback, evaluation, and the awarding of certificates. Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Marlyn B. Llameg, Vice President for Academic Affairs, while Dr. Lynette A. Bontia, SPAMAST President, delivered the message highlighting the importance of strengthening academic initiatives that support the College’s sustainable development agenda.
A significant part of the activity was the roundtable discussion with the visiting scholars from Raiganj University, held in the afternoon. The session was attended by SPAMAST top management officials, deans of the different institutes, program heads, and faculty members, providing an avenue for direct academic exchange and discussion of possible areas for collaboration. The interaction encouraged the sharing of institutional experiences, research interests, academic practices, and opportunities for future partnerships between SPAMAST and its international counterparts. Spearheaded by the OIEL, the activity reflected SPAMAST’s efforts to advance SDG 4 (Quality Education) through graduate education and faculty development, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) through the use of satellite and drone technologies, SDG 14 (Life Below Water) through environmental and marine-related applications, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through international academic cooperation. The seminar-workshop reinforced the College’s direction toward internationalization while connecting education, research, innovation, and sustainable development to local and global needs.
