The University of Baguio, through its Research Innovation Extension and Community Outreach (RIECO), successfully hosted its 2nd International Research Colloquium, themed “UB TRANSCeNDS: The University of Baguio Traverses Research Alliance, Networking, and Sharing as it Celebrated Notable Development and Success.” This event provided a valuable platform for undergraduate and graduate students from diverse disciplines to present their research ideas and findings, promoting collaboration among students, faculty, and staff. The colloquium featured three distinguished keynote speakers: Dr. Jonathan Carreon from HCU, Thailand; Dr. Liezel Astudillo from Dela Salle University; and Dr. Arif Setyanto S. Si from Universitas Amikom Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Dr. Carreon discussed the university’s journey in traversing research alliances and celebrating its notable developments at 75 years. Dr. Astudillo focused on navigating artificial intelligence to enhance research collaboration, while Dr. Setyanto addressed the importance of achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through effective networking and sharing.

In addition to keynote presentations, the colloquium included plenary sessions such as Dr. Marilou Saong’s analysis of arsenic levels in rice and water samples from Barangay Lucnab, Baguio City, and Mr. Albert A. Tayong’s discussion on mathematical models for forecasting student needs in higher education. The event also featured three breakout rooms with 6-8 presentations each, showcasing contributions from nine student presenters, partner schools, scholarship grantees, research grantees, and external guests. The event highlighted the university’s commitment to fostering a robust research culture while facilitating knowledge exchange among students and faculty members. Overall, the colloquium served as a significant milestone in advancing the university’s mission to promote research excellence and community outreach initiatives.