TO ADVANCE the UN Sustainable Development Goals, student leaders from the Ateneo de Manila University joined their peers from Southeast and East Asian Catholic universities in the 29th Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities International Conference.

The Ateneo delegation included President of Ateneo Gabay Willy Santos, President of Ateneo Management Economics Organization Shan Walwyne Uy, Vice President for Finance of AIESEC in ADMU Ry Aliscad, and Vice President for Member Relations of Ateneo Musicians Pool Pio Ty.

They were accompanied by Office of Student Activities Coordinator for Media and Communication Gino Flores, and Coordinator for Internationalization Roxanne Lopez.

Themed “Global Goals in the Care of our Common Home: A Catholic Response,” the conference hosted by Saint Louis University from August 21 to 25, 2023 drew more than 200 faculty and students from nine member countries.

It aimed to place an emphasis on Catholic responses to global challenges, particularly through the lens of the United Nations SDGs in alignment with the principles espoused in Pope Francis’s Laudato Si.

“Ateneo’s student leaders actively participated in a spectrum of shared lectures, interactive discussions, and immersive activities, all of which delved into pertinent themes such as university social responsibility, networks of solidarity, environmental commitment, and institutional rankings,” the school said.

“Throughout the conference’s duration, the participating student leaders engaged in enriching dialogues and hands-on activities designed to promote the seamless integration of Laudato Si’s principles and the UN SDGs into higher education. Notably, Ateneo’s representatives joined peers from other institutions in sharing insights and experiences, while also experiencing cultural exchanges that fostered a sense of global unity,” it added.