Teacher competence and student excellence go hand in hand. To address the need for a more resilient and collaborative educational framework, the University of San Carlos, in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, hosted the National Curriculum Reform Workshop from March 23 to 24, 2026 and International Conference on Ecotourism and Entrepreneurship on March 25, 2026.
The two-day workshop, held at the Virtual Training Room in the Joseph Baumgartner Learning Resource Center at the USC Talamban Campus, served as a culminating activity for the ECOVIP Erasmus+ project.
ECOVIP’s workshop focused on “Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Ecotourism” to align Philippine higher education with global sustainability and labor-market demands.
The event gathered Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and academic leaders to analyze graduate employability trends and identify key entrepreneurial competencies that can be integrated into various study programs across the country.
It was emphasized during the event that the World Cafe methodology—a process mimicking a cozy, open cafe atmosphere—is essential for fostering transparent dialogue between stakeholders of all institutional ranks. In this dialogue setup, no matter your institutional rank, when you sit at the same table, you are all equals.
Following the workshop, the University hosted the International Conference on Ecotourism and Entrepreneurship on March 25 at the Fr. Michael Richartz Conference Center (above).
This flagship public event showcased the three-year achievements of the ECOVIP initiative, featuring plenary sessions from international experts representing Portugal, Vietnam, Spain, and Austria.
Discussions during the conference highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in tourism, the incubation of digital entrepreneurial ideas, and the integration of Sustainable Development Goals into academic curricula.
The conference concluded with a showcase of winning student-led ecotourism business ventures, underscoring the project’s success in bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry application. To the members of Team LAKBAY, Carolinians: Jeziel Mae Faelden (Tourism), Simone Marie Golez (Tourism), Michael Rey Angelo Mabutas (Tourism), Laurenz Mesiah Palanas (IT), and Keturah Ann B. Nacilla (Biology), thank you for gracing us with your presence.
For a complete scoop of the event, you may watch our recorded live video on the University’s Facebook page.
Reflecting on the week’s activities, organizers noted that the collaboration has established a robust “Roadmap for Tourism Curriculum Reform” that prioritizes upskilling teachers alongside their students.
Looking forward, the consortium aims to sustain the ECOVIP momentum through continued institutional partnerships and a scheduled study visit to the Bojo River Eco-Cultural Tour in Aloguinsan to witness community-based conservation in action.