SHS faculty members present research on environmental education
Speakers and participants of the 2023 International Conference on Environmental Education in Southeast Asia.
Asst. Prof. Joshua S. Soldivillo and David B. Ragudo presented their research paper on environmental education at the International Conference on Environmental Education in Southeast Asia (SEA) last October 25 to 27, 2023 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The conference, hosted by the Philippine Network of Educators on Environment (PNEE), gathered educators and experts in Southeast Asia to provide a platform for educators in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to exchange knowledge and best practices in the field of environmental education.
During the conference, Soldivillo was elected as a member of the board of directors of the PNEE for a two-year term.
Gap between aspirations, implementation
Soldivillo and Ragudo’s paper, titled “Mind the Gap: A Comprehensive Curricular Evaluation and Gap Analysis of Philippine Environmental Education,” examined the prevailing environmental education curriculum in the Philippines and identified several critical gaps.
The research revealed that while the curriculum aspires to instill environmental consciousness and responsibility, there is a significant disparity between these aspirations and their practical implementation. This raised questions about the curriculum’s efficacy in nurturing environmentally conscious citizens.
The research also identified gaps within the curriculum content, highlighting the need for improved coverage of critical environmental challenges like climate change adaptation and biodiversity preservation.
The study emphasized the importance of evolving pedagogical approaches to move away from traditional didactic methods and promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Environmental education in SEA
The conference aims to enhance instruction, research, and extension programs related to environmental education in SEA.
The conference featured four distinct thematic areas: Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight in Environmental Education, Innovations in Environmental Education Pedagogies, Environmental Education in Attaining the SDGs 2030, and Environmental Education in the Southeast Asian Region.
Keynote speakers in the 2023 conference were Michael Drabble, senior education specialist at the World Bank, who talked about addressing the impact of climate change on education; Dr. William G. Padolina, an academician of the Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology, who talked about science, technology, and innovation and talent retention priorities for the Philippines and SEA; and Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, who talked about environmental education as a driver to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conference also included plenary sessions on topics such as sociology in agriculture and health education and data analytics in conservation efforts and marine science research.
(L-R) Asst. Prof. Joshua S. Soldivillo and David B. Ragudo present their research paper on environmental education at the International Conference on Environmental Education in Southeast Asia last October 25 to 27, 2023 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
(L-R) Asst. Prof. Joshua S. Soldivillo and David B. Ragudo present their research paper on environmental education at the International Conference on Environmental Education in Southeast Asia last October 25 to 27, 2023 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
