USM Faculty Researchers, Administrators Participate in FuturesPhil Conference 2024

Faculty researchers and administrators from the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) participated in the FuturesPhil Conference 2024, held on August 22 to 24, 2024, at the Manila Prince Hotel, Manila.

The USM team, led by President Francisco Gil N. Garcia, PhD, included Futures Thinking project leaders Dr. Ma. Teodora N. Cabasan and Dr. Edward Barlaan, along with Prof. Marcos Monderin, Dr. Josephine Migalbin, Dr. Jurhamid Imlan, Dr. Florence Roy Salvaña, and Ms. Queenie Llera Rufino.

USM presented future thinking initiatives on food security, Ligawasan Marsh, and Halal product development. The conference also featured discussions on the importance of foresight in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world, emphasizing the role of public management in preparing for future scenarios.

As a beneficiary of a Futures Thinking grant from Senator Pia Cayetano’s office, USM aims to apply the insights gained from the conference to enhance its Futures Thinking programs. The university will focus on developing frameworks for high-value crops, cereals, Ligawasan, and Halal research, ensuring that USM remains at the forefront of innovative and sustainable development.

Anchored in its theme: “Towards Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation, and Futures Thinking,” the event provided a platform for discussing policy reforms centered on sustainable and resilient development.