Prof. Saidamin P. Bagolong, Director of Policy and Scientific Publication, was adjudged the Best Presenter award for his paper on the administration of private higher education institutions and their survival existence in a community in Region 12, besting 18 presenters under the education cluster on the theme professional development and policy/program implementation, at the First International Research and Innovation Conference on Education, Engineering, and Agriculture held December 4 to 6, 2023 at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, North La Union Campus, Bacnotan, Province of La Union, Philippines.
Over 180 participants from the academic and national government agencies and industry sectors participated in the face-to-face and online conference. The papers presented were divided into three clusters: education, engineering, and agriculture. The education cluster comprised four themes: curriculum and materials development with 20 papers and presenters; teaching, learning, and assessment with 37 papers and presenters; professional development and policy/program implementation with 19 papers and presenters; and community and cultural studies with 25 papers and presenters. The engineering cluster includes three themes: industry and engineering, with six papers and presenters; energy and emerging technology with ten papers and presenters; information engineering, engineering education, and management with ten papers and presenters; while the agriculture cluster includes four themes: product development with ten papers and presenters; agronomy and horticulture with 15 papers and presenters; forestry, environment, fisheries, and coastal ecosystem, apiculture, and animal husbandry with 14 papers and presenters; and socio-economics, technology promotion, and community development with 17 papers and presenters.
The conference is organized by the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in partnership with the Udon Thani Rajabhat University Thailand, Van Lang University Vietnam, Department of Science and Technology Region 1, Ilocos Consortium of Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development, University of Northern Philippines, Pangasinan State University, WCC Aeronautical, and Technological College, President Ramon Magsaysay State University, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, University of Eastern Philippines, and Central Mindanao University.
The conference aims to explore the latest trends and innovations in education, engineering, and agriculture that support the UN Sustainable Development Goals; discuss the challenges and opportunities in integrating these fields for sustainable development, foresight, and future thinking; provide participants with models as well as practical examples and case studies from around the world that demonstrate successful research and academic collaboration; and facilitate networking among participants and create a platform for the exchange of ideas, sharing of expertise and learning experiences
The keynote speaker was Dr. Eric Van Bochove, Member of the Board of Directors of the Fondation Massawippi Foundation (FMF), Advisor, Catalyste+, Former Executive Director (Research, Development, and Technology Transfer), Former Director of Bilateral Relations in International Scientific Cooperation, Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada while the plenary speakers were Dr. Phunarat Phiphitkul, Dean of Faculty of Education of the Udon Thani Rajabhat University, Thailand; Dr. Huynh Tan Loi, Head of Doctoral Program in Environmental Science, Van Lang University, Vietnam; Dr. Jie (Joe) Zhuang, Director of Environmental and Soil Science Graduate Studies, University of Tennessee, United States of America; and Dr. Marvin C. Petingco, Research Associate, Grain Handling and Storage, Discrete Element Method, Agricultural Engineering, and Processing Systems, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University, United States of America. //Saidamin P. Bagolong, DPA.
