Resilient, Inclusive, Scalable, and Sustainable Learning Systems
Knowledge Dialogue
23 September 2026, Performing Arts Hall, Cebu
The event was hosted in partnership with the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and the University of the Philippines Cebu (UP Cebu).
The dialogue served as a preparatory activity for the 31st ICDE World Conference.
Under the theme “Grounding the Future of Education: Emerging Practices Toward Inclusive, Scalable, and Sustainable Learning Systems,” participants explored innovative and responsive approaches to learning, as well as opportunities for collaboration across sectors and regions. See highlights from the event↓
A series of context-setting presentations framed the discussion from the global to the local level.
ICDE Secretary General Torunn Gjelsvik presented the global context of distance education, before Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Open University, brought the focus to the national level.
The focus then narrowed to the Visayas. Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil, Regional Director of CHED Regional Office VII, shared the regional perspective, and Palmy Marinel P. Tudtud, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of the Philippines Cebu, brought the discussion home with insights from the local context.
Participants then gathered in concurrent roundtables to discuss key themes in smaller groups.
The theme of resilience and sustainability in education resonated strongly, with participants sharing powerful stories of education disruptions and effective solutions from different parts of the Philippines.
Together, these perspectives underlined the importance of collaboration in building learning systems that can withstand disruption and respond to the needs of learners and societies.
The insights generated at the Knowledge Dialogue in Cebu will help strengthen the regional relevance of the 31st ICDE World Conference while contributing to global conversations on the future of education.