Urdaneta City University, in partnership with Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) - La Union and Daffodil International University (DIU) - Bangladesh, deepened its commitment to internationalization and interdisciplinary learning through its first Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) session held on May 7, 2025 and concluded on May 19, 2025, fostering global academic engagement, intercultural dialogue, and the integration of media and communication in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Conducted via Zoom, the session opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Vicky Agpasa, Vice President for Academic and International Affairs at DMMMSU. Dr. Agpasa emphasized the role of storytelling in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stating that it serves not only as an art form but also as a tool for advocacy, education, and transformation.
This was echoed by Dr. Christine N. Ferrer, Regional Director of the Commission on Higher Education – Region I (CHED RO1), who noted, “Stories shape the way we see the world, and the way we see the world shapes the actions we take.”
The program featured Dr. Ernesto C. Collo, Program Chair of DMMMSU’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication (BACOMM), as the resource speaker. In his lecture, “Journalism as an Ethical Practice for Social Good,” Dr. Collo underscored that journalism guided by ethical principles contributes meaningfully to societal well-being.
During the open forum, a UCU student remarked that while tradition in communication theory remains valuable, adaptation and innovation are essential for addressing current and emerging challenges.
Ms. Jerna J. Feliciano, a faculty member from UCU College of Arts and Sciences, delivered a session on “Media and the SDGs: Visualizing Impact.” She invited students to reflect on the emotional and communicative power of United Nations infographics related to the SDGs. Students responded by acknowledging how visual storytelling effectively conveys the urgency and scope of global issues.
In response, Ms. Feliciano explained, “These are not just random emotions that we feel. This is actually the media's power in action because it transforms the abstract global goals into emotional and visual narratives that we can actually relate to.” This highlights how the media can make complex global objectives more relatable and easier to understand.
This initiative reinforces the university’s commitment to cultivating globally aware and socially responsible learners by highlighting the roles of ethical journalism, media literacy, and storytelling in advancing sustainable development and shaping contemporary communication practices.#