The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 global goals established by the United Nations in 2015. These goals were created to address various social, economic, and environmental challenges facing the world and to guide efforts toward sustainable development by the year 2030. As the University of Baguio-School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management is one with UNWTO, two of SDG Talks were held last second semester. SDG Talks is a program initiated by the SIHTM Tourism Management faculty and students to spread awareness and have the urgent call of action for the Sustainable Development Goals which consists of 17 goals and 169 targets in order to eradicate poverty and realize a sustainable world
Two of the pioneering series are Action Research in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry and Festival Planning: The Success of Destination Events which were held last May 12 and 13 respectively via Zoom and were attended by faculty members and SIHTM students. One of the driving forces behind the School of IHTM's commitment to creating insightful programs that will assist students in realizing the importance of research and events management in their field of study is its aim to produce graduates who exhibit a higher standard of learning and undertake significant researches.
SDG Talks: Action Research in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry. This SDG talks targets the essence of producing relevant research that will practically support the SDG. With this, the webinar focuses on the use of action research in the hospitality and tourism industry where Dr. Chemah Tamby Chik, Associate Professor and Research Expert at Universiti Teknologi Mara, Malaysia. The event was participated by over 179 SIHTM students who are enrolled in research subjects and organized by the Travel Club. The BSTM program chair, Ms. Joanna Marie B. Victorio, graced the event through her opening remarks, together with the faculty members, Ms. Dixie Lidawan and Ms. Jessel Joy Rufin-Sangdaan, who also took part in the program. BSTM students Jomel T. Legaspi and Jhuztine Reychelle S. Rabano hosted the event through the technical help of Justine Tarah Marie M. Valencia and Macy S. Santiago. Dr. Chemah gave an extensive discussion on how to do action research. The event concluded with a question-and-answer portion with the speaker. The said event was made a success because of the collaborative efforts of the organizing team and the speaker who made sure to transfer knowledge and skills to the students.
SDG Talks: Festival Planning: The Success of Destination Events. In support of SDG Goal 4: Quality Education, a webinar entitled “Festival Planning: The Success of Destination Events” held last May 13, 2023, via Zoom featured two resource speakers: Ms. Carolina Fontana, Marketing Manager of International Committee of Tourism Film Festival based in Portugal and Mr. Paul Gudgin, an Event Management Director based in the United Kingdom. The webinar focused on sharing insights, inspirational perspectives, and experiences about the effectiveness of destination event planning. The purpose of the webinar is to deliver vital information on the criteria and ideas for planning a successful destination event. With this event, students can gain knowledge and become more aware of productive habits and approaches. They must have a diverse set of talents, including interpersonal communication, organization, and problem-solving abilities, as discussed in the webinar. Every event must be meticulously organized in order to be successful. An event requires significant time, work, and attention to organize and host. As a result, evaluating the performance of your event is critical in order to discover what went well and what needs to be improved for future events. A destination event is one of the best ways to provide participants with a unique and memorable experience. It will enhance attendance rates by instilling a sense of vocation and encouraging participation in local events. Planning a destination event requires extra attention in terms of logistics and finances, but it is not as complex as it may appear. Your event planning will be effective if you consider the season and available resources. The event was participated by 203 faculty members and students. The event was successfully organized by the TPC 106 – MICE Class of section HCO with the supervision and expertise of Dr. Alvin T. Morales.
Poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, and social injustice are all interconnected global concerns. The SDGs provide a comprehensive framework for addressing these concerns comprehensively and collaboratively. Thus, the School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management's SDG activities are significant steps. SIHTM will continue the program, along with additional activities, to ensure that every graduate is aware of and contributes to the urgent call to action for the SDGs.