In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 interconnected objectives aimed at promoting economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. These goals serve as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all. Therefore, the SDGs serve as the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The 17 SDGs are as follows: SDG1 No Poverty; SDG2 Zero Hunger; SDG3 Good Health and Well-being; SDG4 Quality Education; SDG5 Gender Equality; SDG6 Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG7 Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG8 Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG10 Reduced Inequalities; SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 13 Climate Action; SDG14 Life Below Water; SDG15 Life on Land, SDG16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions and SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals.
Years following the adoption of SDGs, organizations around the globe have exerted their best efforts to contribute in achieving the goals. The University of Perpetual Help System Laguna as an institution of higher learning, stays committed to making an impact not only in the local community but also in our global village. For its part, different research outputs have been produced, each of which is aligned with a specific SDG. For the Academic Year 2022-2023, forty-four(44) research articles have been published to reputable journals, hitting 4 SDGs (i.e., good health and well-being, quality education, decent work and economic growth, and industry, innovation and infrastructure). This feat does not only improve the research portfolio of the institution but also advance the knowledge frontiers in various disciplines. We have allotted the last few pages of this Annual Report for our accomplishment of several SDGs.
While UPHSL continually takes the path of realizing all SDGs, it has to address the challenges associated challenges while taking advantage of opportunities available. Key challenges include multi-sectoral coordination, significant investment and resource allocation and mobilization, data collection and monitoring, tailoring SDGs to national and local contexts and raising awareness and participation of institutional stakeholders. Responding to these concerns will propel UPHSL into a higher status of academic recognition with better national and international reputation
On a final note, the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna strongly recognizes the Sustainable Development Goals as a powerful movement with a transformative vision for a more equitable, sustainable, and peaceful world. While challenges exist, the SDGs present opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and collective action. As the Philippines continues to work towards achieving these goals, our academic community will work tirelessly in order to ensure policy coherence, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based decision-making so that all SDGs will be realized in our institutional operations.
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Ensuring healthy lifestyles and promoting well-being for all people, regardless of age, is the third SDG. This goal places premium importance on one's health and well-being which are crucial from the very beginning of their life.
For Academic Year 2022-2023, five research articles have been produced which were aligned with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. Specifically, the collaborative study on recurrent neural networks long short-term memory by Abante et al was the most cited paper with 14 citations. This is followed by another group research on cataract detection and grading using ensemble neural networks and transfer of learning with 13 citations. Meanwhile, the study of Bawar et al on work-related stress, adversity quotient and psychological well-being of local college instructors yielded 3 citations whereas the paper on owning and loving pet animals by Del Rosario et al received 2 citations. Finally, the study which looked into how instructional leadership affects emotional competencies and work performance of teachers by Jimenez and Galicia recorded 1 citation.
The above studies contribute to SDG by working on the dimensions of memory which affects mental health, cataract detection which is about physical health, psychological well-being, and emotional health.
SDG 4 Quality Education
Goal 4 aims to guarantee inclusive, fair, high-quality education and encourage possibilities for lifelong learning for everyone. In terms of both access and quality, this objective promotes the lessening of imbalances and disparities in education. It acknowledges that everyone, but particularly vulnerable groups including impoverished children, children living in rural regions, people with disabilities, indigenous people, and refugee children, require access to high-quality education.
For the Academic Year 2022-2023, a total of fifteen research articles focused on SDG 4: Quality Education. Notably, the study by Mendoza and Bautista on leadership practices, instructional competence, and teacher performance was the most cited in 2022, receiving five citations. In 2023, research by Pura and Galicia on teachers' lived experiences, as well as studies by Samson and Yango on learning management systems, teachers' techno- pedagogical skills, and students' learning engagement, also garnered significant attention. Additionally, Faminiano and Yango's work on grammatical competence and academic self-efficacy contributed to this citation trend. Liwanag and Galicia's study on students' technological self-efficacy, learning motivation, and self-directed learning received three citations.
The broader research landscape included investigations into classroom management skills, academic achievement, organizational communication, work motivation, pedagogical competence, online learning engagement, hyflex library operations, and research hesitancy. These areas underscore the complex nature of effective education and the essential components needed to cultivate a successful learning environment.
In 2023, further collaborative studies examined organizational culture, teacher proficiency, instructional supervision strategies, and the motivations and perceptions of educators.
Collectively, these studies align with the goals of SDG 4, addressing various dimensions of quality education and reinforcing the need for continuous improvement in educational practices. They emphasize the importance of supporting teachers and creating positive learning environments to enhance student outcomes and overall educational quality.
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 8 aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. Decent work entails higher chances for social integration and personal growth, job stability and social support for families, and opportunity for everyone to obtain productive employment that pays fairly. The fundamental social contract that underpins democratic societies—that everyone must contribute to progress—is eroded by a persistent lack of good employment prospects, inadequate investments, and underconsumption.
For the Academic Year 2022-2023, twenty-two (22) research articles have been reported which focused on SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. In the year 2023, recorded with the highest citation is the study by Gozon and Yango on work engagement, school performance, and teachers' retention followed by the collaborative research of Abante on unemployment rate as factors affecting the gross domestic product, inflation rate and population whereas another group research on flow of household income was conducted. With similar number of citations for the same year were the collaborative works on job satisfaction, socioeconomic status, and perceived stress, the relationship between job satisfaction and happiness and the impact of international trade on economic growth
Furthermore, a series of group work was published in 2023, focusing on the variables of workplace empowerment, job satisfaction, teaching performance as well as how leadership communication styles influences information sharing and performance in supply chain managers of private companies. As well as demographic variables as predictor of member satisfaction of service quality and government economic policy in the post-pandemic Philippines were looked into through a cohort research. Moreover, a collective research output on the impact of COVId-19 on global systems and business systems food was published together with the role of the government in Philippine economy and the examination of the circular flow model as a tool for exploring the interconnectedness of economic sectors.
The year 2023 also witnessed the publication of several joint research works which explored the elasticity theory of demand and supply, households and businesses as drivers of the economy, complexities of the Philippine economy, circular flow of income as impacted by the global pandemic, market structure, and interruption of international trade.
For the year 2022, two cooperative studies were published. The first one looked into the demographic variables and level of awareness on electronic government service while the second paper delved into how effective is the virtual conciliation-mediation on labor relations using the single-entry approach.
The aforementioned studies are congruent with the 8th SDG as they explored on the dimension of the workplace and economic progress in various contexts.
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Building resilient infrastructure, encouraging sustainable industry, and stimulating innovation are the three-fold objectives of Goal 9. Investments in infrastructure, sustainable industrial development, and technical advancement are critical to economic growth, social development, and climate action. Sustained prosperity requires industrialization that, first and foremost, makes opportunities available to everyone and, second, is bolstered by innovation and robust infrastructure in the face of a fast shifting global economic landscape and growing inequities.
For the Academic Year 2022-2023, two research articles were
produced that aligned with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and
Infrastructure. Specifically, the collaborative study on
UV-C disinfection by Abante et al. was the most cited paper,
with 99 citations. This was followed by another study by
Abante et al. on wind speed prediction, which received 4
citations.
The above studies contribute to SDG 9 by creating innovative solutions like the research on UV-C disinfection that highlights the potential for advanced technologies in sanitation processes across various industries. The wind speed prediction study contributes by advancing renewable energy technologies, which are crucial for sustainable development.
Concluding Thoughts
The creation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reaffirms the commitment of humanity to bettering the lives of people not only for this generation but for those to come, cognizant that it takes a village to make a difference. For its significant part, the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna (UPHSL), remains unified with the United Nations (UN) in ensuring that academic institutions are active catalysts to addressing the problems of the world. While UPHSL is situated in an Asian country that is plagued with enormous problems in education, calamities, and corruption to name few, it has stood firm in its creed on making an impact on both the local and global community through quality instruction, research and extension works.
While we recognize that our accomplishment of SDGs is still humbling, we take this stride as a reminder that a “journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This founding step we took will pave the way for a continuous assessment of our outputs with SDGs in our collective consciousness as an academic community which has a power to make a difference. Despite the problems we face in the Philippines, our university remains resilient and chooses to dance with the rain, not to cry in the storm
For the years ahead, we will intensify our publication and citation efforts, ensuring that we have outputs per SDG while specifically maximizing goals which are congruent with our vision and mission as an institution of higher learning. Through concerted and sterling efforts of our stakeholders (i.e., school administrators, faculty, students, alumni, parents, industry partners, NGOs, government and private entities), we are confident that we can create an impact for the planet today and beyond.