GSC team wins 2nd place best paper at int’l research conference

Prof. Dr. Dave E. Marcial, together with his co-authors from the Dr. Mariano C. Lao Global Studies Center (GSC) Jade Montemayor, Fredlie Bucog, and Alfie Arcelo, won second place for Best Paper at the 26th AIIAS International Research Conference (IRC) held on November 18–20, 2025 at the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) in Silang, Cavite.

The conference, which carried the theme “Embracing AI for Smarter Business, Education, and Public Health,” brought together researchers and professionals from various disciplines to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping systems and institutions toward smarter, more innovative, and sustainable futures.

The GSC team’s award-winning study, “Embedding Micro-Learning on Innovation Culture in the ‘Whole-Person Education’ Course,” details the design, integration, and evaluation of a six-hour asynchronous micro-course embedded within GE 10 – Whole-Person Education at Silliman University. Their findings demonstrate how micro-learning can help cultivate an innovation mindset, strengthen ethical AI awareness, and promote responsible digital citizenship among undergraduate learners.

“This achievement is a collective effort across the university,” Marcial emphasized. He acknowledged Dr. McCann’s steadfast digital leadership, the guidance provided by the Deans Conference throughout the implementation, the GE 10 teachers who embraced and supported the innovative delivery, and the students whose active participation greatly enriched the process. He also expressed appreciation to the United Board for Christian Higher Education (UBCHEA) for its funding support, noting that the research forms part of a broader initiative on micro-credentialing.

As part of the recognition, Marcial received a USD 300 cash prize, which he is dedicating to research-related expenses to further advance ongoing work on instructional innovation, micro-learning, and responsible AI integration.

“We at the GSC hope that this pilot becomes only the beginning—paving the way for more innovative, scalable teaching and learning strategies in the years ahead,” he added.

Marcial further noted that the ongoing work of the GSC reflects Silliman University’s commitment to Education 5.0 and to forming students who are technologically skilled, ethically grounded, and ready to navigate an increasingly complex future.