A.R.I.S.E. -

asian research & innovation for sustainable education

This congress is designed to address critical educational gaps in the Asia-Pacific region, such as learning poverty and climate vulnerabilities, by aligning research with the UN SDG 2030 Agenda. We are seeking partners to help architect the future of Asian education through four major research tracks: Humanitarian Resilience, Sustainable Innovation, Inclusive Development, and Gender & Health.

Theme

Building Resilient and Humanitarian Learning Communities through Research and Sustainable Innovations.

01 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Theresita V. Atienza

University President,
Quezon City University (QCU)
Novaliches, Quezon City, Philippines

Dr. Theresita V. Atienza, the first University President of Quezon City University (QCU), has built a distinguished career in higher education, public service, and institutional leadership. Before leading QCU, she held key positions at the National Defense College of the Philippines, Development Academy of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and the University of the Philippines, where she championed academic excellence, national security education, and innovative learning systems.

Recognized internationally for her contributions to education, Dr. Atienza became an Asian Public Intellectuals Fellow and led regional initiatives promoting equitable education and community-based development across Southeast Asia. She also serves as an international accreditor for the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) and advises Women in National Development and Security, advocating for quality assurance, inclusive governance, and women’s participation in leadership. Holding degrees from the University of Santo Tomas and the University of the Philippines, she continues to advance transformative education through collaborative and resilient leadership.

02 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Firth MacKenzie McEachern

Faculty of Education-Language Literacy Education,
University of British Columbia
Program Consultant, UNICEF,
Phom Penh, Cambodia
Educational Consultant, Education Department
Myanmar

Mr. Firth McEachern is an international education consultant and researcher with nearly 15 years of experience advancing inclusive language policies and multilingual education across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Specializing in Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE) and education in emergencies, he has trained more than 10,000 teachers through nearly 200 workshops and has collaborated with organizations such as UNICEF, Save the Children International, and the Myanmar Education Consortium to strengthen language policy, curriculum development, and education systems in underserved and conflict-affected communities.

A graduate of Harvard University and a PhD candidate in Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia, McEachern has made significant contributions to language advocacy, including helping develop the Philippines’ first provincial legislation recognizing Ilokano as an official language and supporting the integration of 19 native languages into the country’s education system. Fluent in five languages and having lived in 10 countries, he also serves as President of UBC’s Graduate Student Society, representing more than 11,000 graduate students while promoting equitable and socially responsive education.

03 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Rahul Bhandari

Associate Prof. and Director, Office of Institutional Advancement and Strategic Global Engagement
O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU)
Sonipat, Haryana 131001
India

Dr. Rahul Bhandari is an accomplished higher education leader, Associate Dean, and Associate Professor of Management at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in Sonipat, Haryana, India. Serving concurrently as Director of the Office of Institutional Advancement and Strategic Global Engagement (IASGE) and Joint Director of the Office of Rankings, Benchmarking & Institutional Transformation, he brings over 18 years of international experience across India, the UAE, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. In these multifaceted leadership roles, Dr. Bhandari is instrumental in driving JGU’s strategic direction, elevating its global reputation, and managing internationalization policy, student mobility, and cross-cultural academic linkages.

Throughout his career, Dr. Bhandari has designed and spearheaded flagship international programs, including the Naveen Jindal Young Global Research Fellowship, the Global Lawyers Fellowship Programme, and specialized executive education curricula for diplomats, policymakers, and international professionals. His leadership in global partnerships and benchmarking has directly supported JGU’s sustained performance in international rankings and global visibility. A dedicated scholar, his research focuses on higher education policy, institutional strategy, employability, and global rankings, with published work in Scopus-indexed journals and thought leadership contributions for the International Association of Universities (IAU) and AACSB. Having represented JGU in over 15 countries and taught more than 5,000 students across six nations, Dr. Bhandari integrates a culturally inclusive, diplomacy-driven approach into university governance and global higher education reform.

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CONFERENCE TRACKS

Humanitarian Resilience and Learning COmmunities

Sustainable Innovation and Educational Transformation

Partnerships, Peace, and Inclusive Development in Education

GEnder and development

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C.U.B.E Me

C.U.B.E. ME (Management Exchange) is a collaborative initiative among four higher education institutions (HEIs) in Baguio and Benguet, Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC), University of Baguio (UB), Baguio Central University (BCU), and Easter College Inc. (ECI). Established on August 31, 2023, the consortium seeks to foster academic excellence and sustainable development through joint efforts in Quality Assurance, Research, and Extension.