CMU faculty champions ecological literacy, sustainable futures at reg’l conferences in Malaysia
Highlighting its commitment to environmental stewardship, Central Mindanao University (CMU) participated in the International Conference on Environmental Education in Southeast Asia (iCEESEA 2026) and the International Conference on Global Citizenship Education (GCED). Hosted at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang on September 10–11, 2026, the joint events brought together regional experts under the theme “Advancing Ecological Literacy and Artificial Intelligence for a Sustainable Future.”
Representing CMU was Dr. Angela Grace Toledo-Bruno, a faculty member of the College of Forestry and Environmental Science, Director of the Office of External Grants, and Vice-President of the Philippine Network of Educators on Environment (PNEE). Dr. Toledo-Bruno joined delegates from Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, and the Philippines to discuss sustainable development strategies.
Out of 95 regional submissions, Dr. Toledo-Bruno’s research paper, “Sustainability of Rice Farming amidst Ricefield Conversion in the Top Rice Producing Cities of Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines,” was selected by the Scientific Paper Review Committee for presentation. Her work highlights practical approaches to food security, ecological literacy, and land management.
Beyond academic sessions, the Philippine delegation met with USM’s Pejabat Kelestarian Universiti (University Sustainability Office) to explore green campus initiatives, observing USM’s campus-wide single-use plastic ban and widespread solar panel installations. PNEE plans to incorporate these strategies into its Dark Green School initiative through virtual knowledge-sharing sessions featuring CMU, Cavite State University, and Central Luzon State University.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Toledo-Bruno emphasized the value of learning from the different approaches of participating institutions.
“Attending conferences and similar events are venues for sharing practices and experiences from other institutions. Institutions have different initiatives and programs on ecological literacy and environmental management,” Dr. Toledo-Bruno noted.
She also highlighted the conference as an opportunity to strengthen connections and explore potential partnerships.
“Conferences also allow participants to sustain interactions with other institutions,” Dr. Toledo-Bruno said, noting that her participation provided an opportunity to meet fellow PNEE members and discuss possible areas of partnership.
The conference concluded with actionable steps for institutional advancement, including publication pathways in USM’s Scopus-indexed journals and deepened cross-border academic partnerships.
The conference also reinforced CMU’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically advancing Quality Education (SDG 4), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Strategic Partnerships (SDG 17) through cross-border collaboration. [Johnica Chantal G. Montero with information from Dr. Angela Grace Toledo-Bruno]
