Rizal Technological University (RTU) proudly participated in the 2025 Asian-GRAduate Studies Summit (A-GRASS) Summit, organized by the Asia Pacific Consortium of Researchers and Educators (APCORE), held on May 21 at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMC UTE). The summit brought together academic leaders, researchers, and graduate education experts from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond—including participants from India, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Nigeria, among many others. They engage in meaningful dialogues on sustainability, innovation, and international collaboration.
RTU was represented by Dr. Rodolfo L. Ducut, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Program Chair of the MBA Program; Dr. Kristine Y. Opulencia, Vice President for Academics and Student Affairs and Program Chair of the Doctor of Business Administration Program; Asst. Prof. John Eric O. Estrellado, Director of the University Public Affairs Office and faculty member of the BSBA Marketing Management Program; and Instr. Shaira Marie P. Rona, Head of the Performance Management Section of the RTU Human Resource Office and faculty member of the BSBA Human Resource Management Program. Both Estrellado and Rona are also alumni of RTU Masters of Business Administration Program.
The opening program featured notable academic figures from host and partner institutions. In his welcome address, Prof. Dr. Racidon P. Bernarte, Managing Director of APCORE, emphasized the role of transformative graduate education in addressing real-world challenges. He underscored the importance of bridging knowledge to action and called for universities to become active agents in developing sustainable and inclusive societies through research, pedagogy, and community engagement. As highlighted by Dr. Bernarte, the A-GRASS platform enables institutions to synergize efforts in nurturing scholars who are not only academically competent but also socially responsible.
This was followed by messages from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Witawat Jangiam, 2025 AGRASS Chair and Dean of the Graduate School at Burapha University, and Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Jailani Bin Mohd Nor, Chairman of APCORE Inc. from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia, both of whom emphasized the shared responsibility of Asian universities in responding to sustainability goals through research and innovation.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Tram Nam Tu, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology, and Information of Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training. In her presentation titled “Bridging Knowledge to Action: Transformative Graduate Education for Sustainable Asia,” she highlighted national efforts and policy directions supporting the development of graduate research as a driver of sustainable transformation.
A roundtable discussion followed, centered on the theme “Pedagogical Innovations and Sustainable Research in Graduate Education: Perils, Pitfalls, and Pearls.” Moderated by Prof. Dr. Ma. Junithesmer D. Rosales of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, the panel featured distinguished scholars from Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines, including Dr. Marie Paz E. Morales of Philippine Normal University, Dr. Kolpheng Vaddahana of Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, and Dr. Edgar G. Cue, President of Mountain Province State University, among others. The panelists tackled practical insights and emerging challenges in pedagogy and graduate research.
In the afternoon, the Research Boot Camp featured breakout sessions on key research areas. Topics included community impact in higher education, research proposal development for sustainability, and the evolving role of generative artificial intelligence in mentoring and research, led by thought leaders such as Prof. Dr. Theresita V. Atienza of Quezon City University, Prof. Dr. Marie Paz E. Morales, and Prof. Dr. Feorillo Petronilo A. Demeterio III of De La Salle University. Other parallel sessions tackled digital tools for humanities research and the integration of AI and data analytics in graduate research, with Vietnamese and Filipino experts facilitating.
RTU’s active involvement in the A-GRASS 2025 Summit reflects its unwavering dedication to enhancing the quality of its graduate programs, fostering cross-border academic collaborations, and contributing to the regional discourse on sustainable development through research and education. The event also provided RTU delegates valuable opportunities to network with regional counterparts, gain insights into best practices, and further position the university as a dynamic player in the international academic community.
