Boac, Marinduque, Philippines — Building on the success of ASEAN Fridays 2025, Marinduque State University (MarSU), through its International Relations and Linkages Office (IRLO), launched SDG Fridays 2026 as an evolving platform for sustainable partnership-building, knowledge sharing, and cultural exchange with local and international partners.
SDG Fridays emerged as an offshoot of last year’s ASEAN Fridays, which highlighted regional cooperation and intercultural dialogue among Southeast Asian institutions. This year, IRLO expands the vision by anchoring the series on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—linking academic engagement with global development priorities.
Guided by MarSU IRLO’s vision of “From the Heart to the World,” SDG Fridays reflects the university’s aspiration to take local knowledge, values, and innovations to the global stage while welcoming ideas and cultures from partner institutions into the MarSU community.
The first installation of SDG Fridays was held on January 30, 2026, in partnership with Institut Teknologi Nasional Yogyakarta (ITNY), Indonesia, and supported by the College of Industrial Technology (CIT) and the College of Engineering (CEng). Anchored on the theme “Innovate. Educate. Collaborate: Driving Sustainable Cities and Global Partnership through SDGs 9, 11, and 17,” the event transformed the lecture series into a space for dialogue and co-learning.
Opening the knowledge exchange, Engr. Melito Hirondo, Dean of CEng, discussed how engineering initiatives contribute to resilient infrastructure and sustainable communities. From ITNY, Dr. Ir. Daru Sugati, S.T., M.T., IPM, presented research on vacuum pump generation using a geodetic head, illustrating how technological innovation supports industry and infrastructure development.
Highlighting student-led innovation, ITNY student Geisler Valentino Samuel Lesnussa introduced Floodguard AI, a flood monitoring system designed to enhance disaster preparedness and climate resilience. From MarSU, UL Armando H. Reyes, CIT Extension Coordinator, shared experiences on community-based extension projects across Marinduque, while Mr. Rodnie H. Mirones, student volunteer, reflected on the role of youth engagement in achieving the SDGs.
An open forum allowed participants to exchange perspectives on collaborative research, mobility programs, and community engagement—strengthening IRLO’s objective of turning partnerships into active, people-centered cooperation.
Through SDG Fridays, IRLO continues to nurture a culture of shared learning and sustainable partnerships, ensuring that internationalization at MarSU is not merely symbolic, but anchored on collaboration, service, and mutual growth.
From ASEAN Fridays to SDG Fridays, MarSU carries forward its commitment to connect communities and cultures—from the heart to the world.
