Partner Universities - S•E•C•R•A

Partner

Universities

Mid Sweden University [MIUN]

Jörgen Sparf

Jörgen Sparf is an Associate Professor in sociology, a founding member of the Risk and Crisis Research Center at Mid Sweden University, and the Director of the Immersive Simulation Environment RCR Lab. His theoretical interest is in relational aspects of institutions and organizations which he applies in the empirical field of societal resilience and disaster risk reduction. Some relevant journals that Jörgen has published are Policy and Society, Safety Science, and Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management.

Evangelia Petridou

Evangelia Petridou is an associate professor of political science at Mid Sweden University, Sweden, and a senior researcher at NTNU Social Research in Norway. She is a co-editor of the International Review of Public Policy (IRPP). Her research interests center on policy process theories specifically policy entrepreneurship, collaboration mechanisms in bureaucracies, and crisis management as a policy sector. She has published in leading journals, including the Policy Studies Journal, European Policy Analysis, and Policy and Politics, and has been involved (as PI and researcher) in projects funded by Swedish Research Councils, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, HORIZON Europe, and Erasmus+. ORCiD: 0000-0001-7316-4899

University of Central Lancashire

Prof. Champika Liyanage

Champika is actively involved in a wide array of research relating to sustainability; facilities and infrastructure management; and capacity building in disaster resilience. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed publications (journal and conferences papers) to-date. Through sheer hardwork and perseverance, she was able to access a range of opportunities and experiences, such as developing a strong international research portfolio. By securing funding, including from Horizon 2020 and EU ERASMUS+, Champika has been able to carve a research path, developing a range of internal, national and international projects and networks.

Dr. Sarita Robinson

Dr. Sarita Robinson is the Associate Dean in the School of Psychology and Humanities at the University of Central Lancashire. She completed her PhD in 2004, focusing on cognitive and neuroimmune changes in response to life-threatening situations. Since then, Sarita has focused her research on disaster risk reduction and recovery and has over 60 publications. In addition, Sarita is committed to EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) activism. This commitment is evident in all aspects of her work, whether as a researcher or in her academic leadership role.

University of Huddersfield

Mr.U.T.G Perera

U.T.G. Perera is a Lecturer in Human Geography attached to the Department of Geography, University of Colombo. He is a junior scholar with a robust educational background that includes a B.A. (Special) in Geography from the University of Colombo, an MS in Environment Management from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and a PhD in Geography from the University of Huddersfield in the United Kingdom. U.T.G Perera was honoured as the best student in the Department of Geography, UOC, in 2017 and received the award for the Best Dissertation in the Department. In 2020, he was awarded an AHEAD (Acceleration Higher Education Expansion and Development) scholarship. He authored 6 articles indexed in Web of Science, contributing insights to the global body of knowledge. In addition, he has presented over 20 scientific communications in prestigious journals and proceedings. He contributed as a researcher in the BRITAE (Building Resilience in Tropical Agro Ecosystems) and SECRA (Strengthening University – Enterprise Collaboration in Resilient Communities in Asia) funded by the EU. He has also worked as the department coordinator for the Blended Learning and Digital Education programme conducted as a part of the AHEAD programme.

University of Ruhuna

Prof. K. D. N. Weerasinghe

K.D.N. Weerasinghe, Professor Emeritus and Ashoka Fellow for Social entrepreneurship was an Academic at Ruhuna University for more than 40 years and was a Head, Dean, and Acting Vice Chancellor. He engaged with 5 EU-supported Erasmus projects Viz. ASCENT. BRITAE, SECRA and FOUNTAIN. He is an Instrumental to form the first business incubator in Sri Lanka. He was an International Consultant to ADPC (Bangkok ), ORSTOM (France) and a National Consultant to World Bank Project on Agricultural Sector Modernization and UNIDO programs on Cinnamon sector development.

Prof. Guttila Yugantha Jayasinghe

Prof. G.Y. Jayasinghe is the coordinator of the FOUNTAIN project and involved in several other EU-funded projects named BRITAE, SECRA, and CCA-DRR. Prof. Jayasinghe is currently the Head of the Department and Professor in Agricultural Engineering at the Ruhuna University of Sri Lanka. He is a recipient of the ‘Endeavour Postgraduate Research Fellowship’ (Australia: 2014); recipient of prestigious Monbukagakusho Award, Japan (2004-2010): recipient of NUFFIC Fellowship, Netherlands, 2012; a recipient of Presidential Awards in 2018: the most outstanding scholar of the University of Ruhuna (2012) and many other awards in multiple occasions to remark his contribution as an academician/researcher globally. He has published over 150 articles in peer-reviewed Journals/Reports/Textbooks etc. Further, he disseminated the outcomes of his work in over 100 symposia /conferences held in Sri Lanka and in over 20 countries and act as expert resource person for several International/Local Institutional/Program Reviews and Seminars/Workshops organized by government/non-government/private institutions.ORCiD: 0000-0001-7316-4899

University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Prof. Lasith Gunawardane

Lasith Gunawardena is a Professor and Head of the Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Management Studies & Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. At present, he spearheads the University's Innovation Arm - Invention, Innovation and Venture Creation Council (IIVCC) as it's Co-Chair. He also serves in the Researcher Advisory Council of ORCID Inc., Advisory Board of STEMUp Foundation, and is the Crossref Ambassador for Sri Lanka. He is a fellow of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, and a Senior Member of the IEEE as well ACM. Previously, he has held the positions of Chairman, IEEE Computer Society Sri Lanka Chapter, Honorary secretary for BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, Sri Lanka Section. and General Secretary, Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists. His research Interests include ICT Infrastructure, Information Security, and E-Governance. He has a patent in Japan for the invention of a gesture recognition device.

Prof. Upuli Perera

Prof. Upuli Perera is a distinguished academic with a wealth of experience in the fields of urban and regional studies, real estate, property valuation, and sustainable development. She began her academic journey at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Estate Management & Valuation (Special). Continuing her pursuit of knowledge, Dr. Perera earned a Master of Engineering (Urban) degree from the University of Tokyo, Japan, in 2008. She pursued a PhD in Urban and Regional Studies from the University of Birmingham, UK which she successfully completed in 2019. With research interests spanning choices, property valuation, housing markets, sustainability, and communicative planning, Prof. Perera has made significant contributions to the academic community through her publications and consultancy projects. She has been involved in various consultancy projects, including those related to property valuation and taxation, urban regeneration, resettlement, transportation, and service quality management. Prof. Upuli Perera is a Fellow member of the Institute of Town Planners, Sri Lanka, Passed Finalist of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK, a Life Member of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science, an alumni of Asian Development Bank Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission UK. In 2016 she also became one of the delegates to Chicago Forum on Global Cities. Currently, Prof Perera is also the national consultant for property valuation and taxation for the World Bank Group. In addition to her academic and professional achievements, Prof Upuli Perera has held leadership roles within the academic community, serving as the former Head of the Department of Estate Management and Valuation and currently as the Chairperson for the Board of Studies in Business Studies at the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Prof. Rukmal Weerasinghe

Rukmal Weerasinghe is a Professor and Head of the Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Management Studies & Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. At present, he spearheads the University's Innovation Arm - Invention, Innovation and Venture Creation Council (IIVCC) as it's Co-Chair. He also serves in the Researcher Advisory Council of ORCID Inc., Advisory Board of STEMUp Foundation, and is the Crossref Ambassador for Sri Lanka. He is a fellow of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, and a Senior Member of the IEEE as well ACM. Previously, he has held the positions of Chairman, IEEE Computer Society Sri Lanka Chapter, Honorary secretary for BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, Sri Lanka Section. and General Secretary, Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists. His research Interests include ICT Infrastructure, Information Security, and E-Governance. He has a patent in Japan for the invention of a gesture recognition device.

Dr. Mahesh Fernando

Mahesh Fernando is a researcher and a SEDA-accredited teacher in higher education for more than 24 years. He is currently working in the position of Senior Lecturer at the Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. His research focused on health informatics with his PhD in 2018, yet he was in multidisciplinary fields combining science, management, and information technology. His passion for research is in Data Science and information systems.

Dhanuka Perera

Dhanuka Perera is a Lecturer attached to the Department of Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He is the Chairman of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEFENI) a unit attached to the Department of Entrepreneurship. He is serving as both an Entrepreneur and an Academic interested in research in areas including Entrepreneurship, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, and Technology with publications on ICT adoption models in SMEs, and the impact of Technology adoption on business performance and Cybersecurity

Chathini De Silva

Chathini De Silva serves as a Lecturer attached to the Department of Entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. She has completed her BSc in Entrepreneurship at University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2017 and MBA at Postgraduate Institute of Management of University of Sri Jayewardenepura. She is the Coordinator at the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Support Unit (SMEDSU), which operates under the Department of Entrepreneurship. Her academic interests span various research domains such as Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovations, SMEs, Entrepreneurial Bricolage, and Resource Management.

University of Peradeniya

Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake

Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake is a Senior Professor in Civil Engineering at the University of Peradeniya. He is a Fulbright Scholar in the USA, an Endeavour Fellow in Australia, and JASSO Research Fellow in Japan. He is the President of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL), the Chairman of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka (GBCSL), and a Vice President of the Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI) Sri Lanka. He is also the former Secretary to the State Ministry of Rural Roads and the State Ministry of Urban Development. He is the founder of gap HQ, the base of operation of several companies, including Lego International (Pvt.) Ltd, ICB (Pvt.) Ltd, Lanka AAC (Pvt) Ltd, GAP (Pvt) Ltd, and Wrangler Solutions (Pvt) Ltd. He is co-chairing the 14th International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment, Kandy, Sri Lanka (https://www.kandyconference.org/), and the 1st International Conference on University-industry Collaborations for Sustainable Development, Colombo, Sri Lanka (https://colomboconference.org).

Prof. Chaminda S. Bandara

Prof. Chaminda S. Bandara is a Professor in Civil Engineering at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya, a Chartered Civil Engineer, and an Accredited Professional of the Green Building Council Sri Lanka. He has around 24 years of professional experience as a practicing civil and structural engineer, a researcher, and an academic. His research interests include damage assessment of structures, structural health monitoring, disaster resilience of structures, green building, and sustainability aspects of structures. He has been involved in curriculum and policy development activities at the university and currently serving the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya as the Coordinator of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell. He has vast experience in managing large-scale civil engineering construction projects as a designer and a manager. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed journal papers, 2 books, 15 book chapters, and more than 50 conference papers. He is contributing to the Erasmus+ Projects: SECRA and FOUNTAIN at present and was contributed to the Erasmus+ Projects: CABARET, CCADRR and RECADOS in the past.

Prof. Roshan Darshana Yapa

Prof. Roshan Dharshana Yapa is a Professor in Statistics & Computer Science attached to the Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya. He is the Director of the Business Linkage, Innovation, Incubation and Technology Transfer Office (BLII-TTO) of the University of Peradeniya. His research interests are: Crime Investigation supporting tools and Crime pattern analysis, Data Science & Big Data Analytics, Spatial Analysis, Social Network Analysis, Medical Image Processing.

Lahiru Dissanayake

Mr. Lahiru Dissanayake is a Ph.D. Candidate in Advanced Steel Structures at Imperial College London and currently works as a Research Assistant at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya. He graduated with a First-Class BSc Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Peradeniya in 2021. As a researcher, Lahiru’s interests span a diverse range of topics, including Finite Element Formulation, Structural Dynamics, Advanced Mechanics, Forensic Engineering, Advanced Steel Structures, and Sustainable Built Environment. Beyond his academic pursuits, Lahiru actively engages in various extracurricular activities and community service initiatives. He has held the position of Joint Director for Community Service in Rotaract District 3220 Sri Lanka & Maldives. He is also a Charter Member of the Leo Club of University of Peradeniya and has served as the President of the Rotaract Club of University of Peradeniya.

Sadeesha Senanayake

Ms. Sadeesha Senanayake completed the B.Sc.(Hons.) degree in Agriculture from the Department of Agribusiness Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, specializing in Agricultural Economics. She serves as a team member of Erasmus+ Projects SECRA and FOUNTAIN. She was a Research Assistant in a research project on agro-based SME sector development at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, and also involved with the Marine Environment Protection Authority, Sri Lanka. She was the G17 University Ambassador (2022/2023), advocating the 17th goal: Partnerships for the Goals, representing the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka in a Global Fellowship for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She is the founder of the ‘SPRIG’ Educational Awareness project series advocating the UN SDG and promoting discussion sessions with collaborative partnerships with several government institutions. She is a certified Green Associate Professional of the Green Building Council, Sri Lanka, and a member of the Council of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS).

Chiang Mai University

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sujinda Sriwattana

Prof. Sujinda Sriwattana is presently serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Agro-Industry at Chiang Mai University and the Vice President of the Agro-Industry Academic Council Association (AIAC), Thailand. She is also the Chairman of the Curriculum Committee for the Higher Research Degree program in Agro-Industrial Product Development. She has almost 30 years’ experience in teaching and research at universities. Her research interests include sensory science and consumer research, value-added food product development and functional ingredients. Currently, she is working on texture and flavor development of plant-based meats, value-addition to raw agricultural materials and developing technologies to up-scale pilot plant processes for food industry applications to modernize the food. She presently contributes to Erasmus+ Projects: SECRA and FOUNTAIN as the Project Lead of the Chiang Mai University.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichaya Poonlarp

Prof. Pichaya Poonlarp is presently serving as an Associate Dean of the Faculty of Agro-Industry at Chiang Mai University. She has actively engaged with the private and public sectors in food science and technology, postharvest technology, product development and food quality management. Research interest in dehydration technology, postharvest technology and engineering, and food processing. She contributes to Erasmus+ Projects SECRA and FOUNTAIN as a team member representing the Chiang Mai University.

Naresuan University

Sarintip Tantanee

Sarintip Tantanee has worked as an engineer in the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) for 10 years and has been working as a lecturer at the university for more than 20 years. Her work experiences are in Water Resources Management, Hydropower projects, and the application of remote sensing information for rainfall prediction including a focus on the climate change adaptation for Thai society. She currently works as the president of Naresuan University, in Thailand. She has experience both in local and oversea research such as: Japan-Thai cooperation projects of the Integrated study on hydro-Meteorological Prediction and Adaptation to Climate change in Thailand (IMPAC-T) during 2009-2013 and the Advancing Co-Design of integrated strategies with Adaptation to climate change in Thailand (ADAP-T) during 2016-2020 which were supported by JICA/JST, Japan; Advancing Skill Creation to Enhance Transformation (ASCENT) during 2015-2018, Mastering Energy Supply focusing on Isolated Areas (MESfIA) during 2018-2021, and Strengthening University–Enterprise Collaboration for Resilient Communities in Asia (SECRA) during 2020-2023 which were supported by Erasmus+.

Kumpon Subsomboon

Kumpon Subsomboon completed his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Kasetsart University, Thailand. He furthered his Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering at the Asian Institute of Technology and his Master of Philosophy in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics from Columbia University, New York, USA. He has experiences in both professional and academic aspects e.g. Project member of Erasmus+ Project, namely, Strengthening University–Enterprise Collaboration for Resilient Communities in Asia (SECRA) during 2020-2023, Director of the Water Resources Research Center during 2018-2022, Associate Dean in Administration during 2010-2018, Assistant Construction Manager at Griffis and Associates, New York, USA, during 2002-2004, Adjunct Lecturer at Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, USA, during 2003-2004, and Research Scientist at Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, USA, during 2000-2003. He was also a Civil Engineer at Siam Cement Public Company Limited in 1993. Currently, he serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Naresuan University, Thailand.

Panu Buranajarukorn

Panu Buranajarukorn has been a Lecturer and a Researcher at the Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Naresuan University. He has worked over 22 years in academic institute as well as he has great experience to work with local industries on the aspect of productivity and process improvement in manufacturing. He has worked closely with the entrepreneurs in order to support business incubation and startup companies. He is the author of numerous publications focused on engineering management and industrial engineering. He has presented his reserch at a number of national and international conferences. His experiences both in local and oversea projects such as Erasmus+ project, namely, Strengthening University–Enterprise Collaboration for Resilient Communities in Asia (SECRA) during 2021-2023 and Advancing Skill Creation to Enhance Transformation (ASCENT) during 2015-2018; Head of Industrial Engineering Department, Naresuan University during 2009-2018; Vice Director, Naresuan University Business Incubator Centre (NUBIC), Naresuan University during 2006-2010. Currently, he serves as the Associate Dean in Academic Affair at the Faculty of Engineering.

Phisut Apichayakul

Phisut Apichayakul completed his bachelor's degree and then his master's degree in Control Engineering at the King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Thailand. In 2010, he earned his doctorate in Automatic Control and System Engineering from The University of Sheffield, UK. He has been working as a Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering for more than 20 years. His work experience is in time series modeling and analysis, especially spatio-temporal state space models, modeling and control, sensors and measurements, and disaster management. He experienced as a coordinator for several training courses and participated in several Erasmus+ projects e.g. Advancing Skill Creation to Enhance Transformation (ASCENT) during 2015-2018, Mastering Energy Supply focusing on Isolated Areas (MESfIA) during 2018-2021, Improving Access to Science and Technology Higher Education in Resource-Poor Institution through an Open Platform for Technology Enabled Active Learning Environment (TEAL2.0) during 2019-2023, Strengthening University–Enterprise Collaboration for Resilient Communities in Asia (SECRA) during 2020-2023. Presently, he serves as the Vice President and has major roles in international relations, technology transfer, and academic services.

Orawan Sirisawat Apichayakul

Orawan Sirisawat Apichayakul currently works as a Lecturer in Communication and Media at the Department of Communication Arts, Naresuan University, Thailand. Her experiences both in local and overseas activities and projects, for instance, being an advisor for the Thai Public Broadcasting Services (Thai PBS) Audience Council in the North Region, Thailand, from 2018 to 2024; voluntarily working as an advisor for the Phichit Development Foundation since 2021; project coordinator and member of Erasmus+ project, namely, Strengthening University–Enterprise Collaboration for Resilient Communities in Asia (SECRA) during 2021-2023. Her areas of expertise are related to speech communication, script writing, capacity building in communities, community and participatory issues, citizen journalism, disaster and sensitive journalism, media and communication in a glocal context, marginalized people, and community & communication issues.

Mahasarakham University

Siwa Kaewplang

Siwa Kaewplang received his PhD from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, in 2014. He is currently an Assistance Professor of Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Thailand. His research interests include Digital Photogrammetry; Geographic Information System; Geostatistics; Remote sensing; Hyperspectral remote sensing; Image classification; Image processing; Information technology; Precision agriculture; Natural resource management; Tropical vegetation; Water resource management and irrigation engineering.https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=16833546100

Ateneo de Manila University

Charlotte Kendra Gotangco Goznales

Dr. Charlotte Kendra Gotangco Gonzales is the Director of the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability and Chair of the Leadership Council of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Philippines (SDSN PH). She received her Bachelor of Science in Physics with a Minor in Philosophy at the Ateneo de Manila University and her Master of Environmental Management in a joint degree program with Ateneo de Manila University and the University of San Francisco. She obtained her Ph.D. in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Purdue University, USA. At the Environmental Science Department, she teaches Systems Thinking, Climate and Earth Systems and Science, Technology and Society. She also teaches for the MS in Science Education program of the School of Science and Engineering, and the MS in Sustainability Management program of the John Gokongwei School of Management. Her research interests include human-environment dynamics and the systems approach, climate change and disaster risk, and resilience.

Joselito Olpoc

Mr. Joselito C. Olpoc, or Bong as he is fondly called, has been teaching for more than thirty years and is currently a faculty of the Quantitative Methods and Information Technology Department of the John Gokongwei School of Management of the Ateneo de Manila University. He graduated from the Ateneo with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Engineering in 1991 and a Masteral Degree in Computer Science, major in Software Engineering in 2001. Bong also worked as a Technical and Education Consultant for Hewlett Packard Philippines in a full-time capacity from 1996 to 1998. He went back to the academe in June of 1998 but he constantly keeps in touch with the industry by acting as an Academic Speakers and Consultant on a per project basis. His recent consultancy projects involve Sustainability, Business Process Reengineering, Project Management and IT Management. In the past, he has acted as programmer, systems analyst, content provider, implementation lead, project manager and IT strategist. His research interests include sustainability, IT management, business process management, operations management, and the organizational impact of IT in a variety of industries.

Mariela Alcaparas

Mariela Alcaparas holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master's degree in Environmental Science, has IP practitioner certifications from JPO and WIPO Academy, and successfully completed the Harvard CopyrightX program. Currently, she is also a part-time faculty member at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and is actively involved in projects focusing on university-enterprise collaboration for resilient communities. She is also a is a former consultant for USAID-STRIDE with a background in various S&T research projects and program development, her research interests encompass innovation, entrepreneurship, soil science, and environmental management.

Steve Chavez

Steve Maverick Chaves, RN, MTM is the Head of Ideation Support Group, AIPO. A Design Thinking Trainer since 2019. He is currently a PhD student in Leadership studies (maj. Business leadership) with a Master of Technology Management at University of the Philippines Diliman. He is a former consultant for USAID-STRIDE and WIPO Academy certified on Advanced and Executive courses on IP Management & the Intersections of IP, Health, and Trade. He has engaged and provided support to more than 20 local and multinational-multidisciplinary research projects in the Ateneo for 8 years.

Bryan Erfe

Bryan Erfe is part of the Commercialization and Business Incubation Group of the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office. Currently, he is engaged in technology transfer matters and involved with the university's technology business incubator, the Ateneo Blue Nest. He has extensive experience in intellectual property, IP valuation, and licensing and negotiations, helping facilitate Ateneo's first technology licenses. He was previously involved in the USAID-ECOFISH project and was a consultant for the USAID-STRIDE project. He is also actively involved with various NGOs including the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society Inc. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the Ateneo de Manila University and is currently pursuing Master in Technology Management in the University of the Philippines.

Philippine Normal University

Bert J. Tuga

Dr. Bert J. Tuga is the 11th President of the Philippine Normal University, the National Center for Teacher Education. Prior to his current post, he occupied the following positions in the University: Vice President for Finance and Administration, Vice President for University Relations and Advancement, and Campus Executive Director & Provost of PNU Visayas. Dr. Tuga finished his PhD in Curriculum and Instruction in 2016 from the Philippine Normal University and completed a PhD Sandwich Program for his dissertation at the Ohio State University in Columbus, USA. He is also an alumnus of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Fellowship Program on Higher Education Policy Development and a recipient of the Asian Development Bank – The HEAD (Healthcare & Education for Asian Development) Foundation Joint Professional Development Program on Education Reform and Implementation; and completed an Immersive Workshop on Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Institute of Development Studies of University of Sussex, United Kingdom. Outside PNU, Dr. Tuga serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP); Regional Chair of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges-NCR; President of the Philippine Association for Teachers of Educational Foundations (PATEF- UPDATE); member of the Core Team of the Asia-Pacific Network on Global Citizenship Education (GCED); and a regular member of Management Association of the Philippines. Dr. Tuga has served as a consultant and resource person for several national and international projects implemented and/or funded by the European Union Erasmus+ Programme, SEAMEO Secretariat, SEAMEO INNOTECH, UNESCO APCEIU, UNESCO Bangkok, DepEd, and CHED. Notable projects include the international project on Global Citizenship Education implemented and funded by UNESCO Bangkok where he serves as International Lead Consultant and the Global Academic Teacher Education 2.0 implemented KU Leuven, Belgium and funded by VLIR-UOS where he serves as Resource participant for Southeast Asia. Dr. Tuga teaches in the PNU Graduate School handling curriculum and instruction courses such as Foundations of Curriculum, Learning Theories and Practice, Critical and Reflective Pedagogy, and Alternative Management. Dr. Tuga has been honored with several prestigious awards throughout his career. In 2018, he received the UNESCO Club's Outstanding Educator Award. In 2022, he was honored with the Gawad Banyuhay para sa Karunungan by the Dr. Carl E. Balita Foundation. Additionally, he was recognized as the Outstanding Nortehanon of the Province of Northern Samar in the same year. Furthermore, Dr. Tuga has recently received two notable awards. The Office of the Government Corporate Counsel has awarded him the Carriedo Bahaghari Award for Leader in Education, acknowledging his leadership in the field. Recently, Dr. Tuga is selected as Jury member of the prestigious, Wenhui Award for Educational Innovation in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Darryl Roy Montebon

Dr. Darryl Roy Montebon currently serves as the Associate Dean at PNU's Faculty of General Education and Experiential Learning, previously directing the Institute of Teaching and Learning. As an Associate Professor V, he educates in science, research, and practice teaching. Spearheading the University's experiential learning program, his academic journey began with a Bachelor's in Secondary Education from PNU, followed by a Master's from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Recently, he became PNU Manila's first PhD by Research in Science Education, focusing on a thematic instruction model for K to 12. A prolific researcher, he leads a European-funded project fostering academe-industry partnerships.

Leah Amor S. Cortez

Dr. Cortez is a faculty member of the College of Graduate Studies and Teacher Education Research (CGSTER). She is currently designated as the Executive Director and Provost of PNU South Luzon. She graduated from Philippine Normal University (Manila) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and went to De La Salle University Dasmariñas for her Master of Science in Biology. Her research interest in the environment was further pursued when she finished her Ph.D. in Biology at the same university where she worked on Environmental Assessment and Human Health Risk Assessment in Small Scale Gold Mining Sites. She is a resource person/speaker in science content updating, science education, pedagogies and strategies, and materials development. Her research interests include environmental science, ethnoscience , and science education.

Arlyne C. Marasigan

Dr. Arlyne Marasigan is an associate professor of educational leadership and management at the College of Advanced Studies (CAS), Philippines Normal University (PNU), Manila. She handles graduate courses in educational leadership and management, curriculum and instructions, and science education and serves as a panelist/adviser in thesis and dissertation writing. Since 2019 she’s one of the associate editors of the PNU journal publications (The Normal Lights (TNL), Asia Pacific Higher Education Research Journal (APHERJ) and Association of Southeast Asian Teacher Education Network (ASTEN) and a reviewer of other international and local journal publications. She is the former Graduate Research Office (GResO) Director (2020-2022) in charge and assists the college in establishing PNU’s leadership in teacher education research by ensuring that graduate students become active contributors in international and national teacher education research networks and fora. In addition, assuring that the research work of graduate students complies with the University’s research policies and standards, contributes to the success of PNU’s research program, and coordinates with the Educational Policy and Research Development Office (EPRDO) on relevant matters.

Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna

Maria Rhodora R. Austria

Asst. Prof. Austria is an educator and academic administrator for 25 years now. She is currently the Dean of the ET Yuchengco College of Business at Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna and the concurrent Program Chair of the Hospitality Management program. She oversees six business programs in the College. For the SECRA project, she is leading the Mapua MCL team. She is in the dissertation stage to complete the Doctor in Hospitality Management program. Her research interest is in the area of tourism and hospitality management and sustainability in these fields.

Jocelyn T. Bellin

Ms. Jocelyn T. Bellin currently serves as the Director of the Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna (MMCL) - Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE) for two (2) years now. The CSCE serves as the MMCL's corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm mandated to implement high-impact extension programs that will hopefully benefit our institutional partners, mostly from public elementary and high schools, government, and non-government organizations. Our department facilitates service-learning (SL) and community engagement (CE) initiatives inspired by the spirit of volunteerism and a strong commitment to service. Ms. Bellin has worked with government, non-government, and international human rights organizations in various capacities but mostly with a focus on gender and development (GAD) advocacies, mainstreaming, and capacity building. Ms. Bellin has finished her Master's Degree in Women and Development Studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman and Master on Development Management and Governance at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). She is currently pursuing her Ph.D in Extension Education at the UPLB.

Roel C. Rodrigo

Dr. Roel C. Rodrigo is the Director, Institute for Excellence in Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning focused on providing programs on micro-credentialing and industry certifications to existing students, alumni, industry partners, and learners outside the institution seeking professional growth. He was the former Director, Learning Environments and Innovations Office managing educational technology tools for the use of learners and facilitators in a face-to-face, virtual, and/or hybrid set-up, while ensuring knowledge and skills are acquired on these learning tools. He is a faculty member in the College of Business, handling research, management, tourism, and hospitality courses, and is open for collaboration on providing learning and development opportunities to traditional and non-traditional types of learners and exploring business development potential related to tourism and hospitality.

Hermie Articona

Dr. Articona is the Director of the Research Promotion and Coordination Office. His office is focused on the overall research management of the institution. Specifically, it monitors the output (ideation to publication) of faculty-driven research from thesis and capstone projects of students, individual, and collaborative research activities of faculty members of our institution. Also, his office is responsible in pursuing research collaborations with the industry, searching for research fundings and grants, and forming of teams for research projects. His office ensures that the research papers conducted by any member of our academic community will impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are aligned with the local research agenda of our country, and also aligned with the research thrust of our institution.