THREE faculty members from Silliman University completed an international capacity-building program on social entrepreneurship organized by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia in Chiang Mai, Thailand last month.

Dr. Teodora A. Cubelo, Asst. Prof. Novee E. Maestrecampo Jr., and Asst. Prof. Frestille Mae Cuello joined participants from 14 higher education institutions across India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand in the Seeds of Change: Initiating Social Entrepreneurship in University Education program.

The program combined a series of online learning sessions facilitated by UBCHEA with the Payap–Yunus Social Business Center and Payap University’s Center for Social Impact, culminating in a three-day onsite workshop at Payap University.

Discussions focused on integrating social entrepreneurship into academic curricula, micro-credentials, and non-degree offerings, alongside panel sessions and engagements with social entrepreneurs based in Chiang Mai.

During the reflection session, Maestrecampo represented the Philippine cohort and emphasized the need to align social entrepreneurship education with the mission of Christian higher education, highlighting learning and service as expressions of faith in action.

He further stressed that communities should be viewed as co-creators rather than mere beneficiaries of development, underscoring participation, empowerment, and solidarity as foundations of sustainable social enterprise initiatives.