Shaping Future-Ready Learners Through ESG-Driven Instruction at Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba

In a rapidly evolving world of work where industries evolve continuously and global challenges call for innovative and sustainable response, educational institutions are faced with a critical question: How can we effectively prepare students to thrive in the future world of work?

Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba maximizes digital educational technology to equip students with future-ready skills by integrating innovative tools into instruction and fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability. Tech-enabled learning environments immerse students in real-world problem-solving, preparing them to meet the evolving demands of the modern workforce. Yet, the future of work is shaped not only by technology but also by the growing need for sustainability knowledge and competencies. The Colegio’s response extends beyond embracing digital educational technology in teaching and learning.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba is a Catholic educational institution committed to the total human development and improved quality of life of its stakeholders, and to the promotion of a socially responsive community through a global and innovative education that is Dominican in orientation. It also grounds its mission in ESG principles equally vital in shaping ethical, socially responsible, and environmentally conscious graduates.

The Colegio believes that true student success lies not only in knowledge acquisition but in the ethical and wise application of that knowledge. Through the dynamic integration of ESG initiatives, the Colegio ensures its graduates are not only prepared for the workplace’s evolving demands but are also ready to lead with conscience. This commitment reflects the Colegio’s core values, Conscience, Discipline, and Excellence, the principles that guide all aspects of academic and character formation.

Preparing students for the future means cultivating leaders who are environmentally conscious, socially aware, and committed to ethical governance. ESG principles take center stage through a comprehensive framework encompassing institutional efforts, academic integration, and specialized training and certification.

Institutionally, The Colegio focuses on several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Environment: SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)
• Social: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education)
• Governance: SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)

Redesigning the Curriculum for ESG Readiness

The Colegio places Quality Education (SDG 4) at the heart of its academic mission, promoting innovation and inclusivity across all levels. The Colegio is actively redesigning its curricula to prepare students for ESG-centered workplaces. Recognizing that sustainability goes beyond environmental concerns, the institution is embedding ESG-related concepts into various courses to address the interconnected dimensions of sustainability, social responsibility, and governance. Curricular offerings have been modified to ensure students develop ESG competencies that align with industry needs and global challenges. Furthermore, ESG has been prioritized in the institutional research agenda, encouraging students to pursue research projects that align with ESG themes.

Several teaching and learning activities have been implemented to promote ESG awareness and integration:

• GAWACO Program (Gardening, Waste Management, and Composting) by the Basic Education Department fosters environmental responsibility through hands-on gardening and composting.
• Vegetarian Cuisine Exploration by the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management highlights sustainable culinary practices and low-carbon, healthy dining.
• Knights Café, operated by BS Hospitality Management students, promotes healthy food choices, using fresh herbs grown by students and eco-friendly packaging.
• Graduate School and Professional Studies conducted ESG-focused sessions on awareness, reporting, and investing, also extended to industry practitioners.
• Green Prototypes and Computing Projects developed by the Schools of Engineering & Architecture and Computer Studies & Technology emphasize sustainability and innovation.
• Makipamuhay Program immerses students in marginalized communities, fostering inclusive development and active citizenship.
• ESG-integrated outcomes are embedded in Letran Quality Enhancement Courses.
• Healthcare Sustainability Projects are led by the School of Nursing.
• National Service Training Program (NSTP) projects are aligned with ESG principles.
• Science, Technology, and Society (STS) course culminates with ESG-focused activities.

To further enhance the quality of education, the institution incorporates immersive educational technologies, offers a Robotics Academy in the Basic Education Department, provides vast online library access and reference, and implements a centralized student research program to promote inquiry and academic output. To bridge education and employment, the Colegio strengthens industry-academe collaboration and offers micro-credential programs aligned with emerging workforce needs.

Moreover, the Colegio empowers its teachers not only through innovative pedagogical approaches but also by equipping them with the knowledge and tools to integrate ESG principles into their instruction. The ESG Literacy Awareness Seminar empowers faculty to become advocates for sustainable practices, equity, and ethical leadership. As a member of the Philippine Network of Educators on Environment (PNEE), Letran also participates in international conferences such as the iCEESEA 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, which focused on the theme Ecological Literacy: Contributions of Environmental Educators, Practitioners, and Partners in Shaping a Sustainable Future.

From Theory to Praxis: Environmental Care, Social Change, and Responsible Governance

The Colegio’s commitment to ESG principles is further realized through its impactful community extension programs. These initiatives not only benefit partner communities but also provide students with real-world opportunities to apply classroom theories, what the institution calls “theory to praxis.”

These extension activities are anchored on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, promoting community development through collaborative academic initiatives. Each academic unit actively contributes to uplifting the quality of life in Letran’s adopted communities:

• Graduate School: Facilitates capacity-building initiatives, such as the formation of local cooperatives.
• School of Business and Accountancy: Provides training on small business management and entrepreneurial skills.
• School of Tourism and Hospitality Management: Conducts nutrition education and healthy lifestyle promotion.
• School of Education, Arts, and Sciences: Leads Gabay-Aral, a reading remediation program aimed at improving literacy among young learners.
• School of Nursing: Organizes health missions and wellness programs that address community health concerns.
• School of Computer Studies and Technology & School of Engineering and Architecture: Implement computer literacy training and develop barangay information systems.

These initiatives serve a dual purpose by uplifting communities and building student competencies in leadership, collaboration, and social responsibility. The Colegio also advances sustainability through strategic partnerships and green practices aligned with ESG principles:

• The Colegio collaborates with ACEN, a renewable energy provider that sources 98% of its energy from sustainable resources.
• Installation of solar-powered lamps across campus.
• On-campus initiatives include a plant nursery, sewage treatment facilities, waste management systems, material facility recovery, and the implementation of the 7S habit, all supporting SDGs 7 and 13.

Likewise, equal priority is given to health and well-being. The Medical and Dental Clinic Unit spearheads health advocacy through regular seminars and wellness campaigns. With resident doctors, dentists, and nurses, the unit actively promotes health awareness in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross and conducts annual physical exams for employees.

Building on these efforts, the Colegio also emphasizes governance. It goes beyond compliance, it is a strategic commitment. Since 2019, the Colegio has held Autonomous Status from CHED, a recognition of its academic and operational excellence aligned with SDGs 4 and 16. Accreditation began in 2008 through PACUCOA, with 67% of programs accredited by Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) and 56% at Level III, with many advancing toward Level IV. These accreditations affirm the quality of the institution’s curriculum, faculty development, student services, and governance. The Colegio is also ISO 9001:2015 certified and a recipient of the Philippine Quality Award for excellence in quality management. In 2016, it earned international distinction as Best in Class at the Global Performance Excellence Awards in New Zealand, presented by the Asia Pacific Quality Organization (APQO).

Governance is also strongly reflected in the values formation initiatives of the Campus Ministry Department and the character education programs of the Religious Education Department. These programs cultivate integrity, empathy, and social responsibility among students. The Student Services Department furthers this effort through Pandayan, an annual student leadership program that empowers emerging student leaders with the principles of ethical governance and participatory leadership. Additionally, the active involvement of the Student Government in institutional affairs exemplifies student representation, democratic participation, and responsible governance within the Colegio. The Colegio also has an established Child Protection Committee that ensures fairness and due process in addressing student concerns.

Through ESG-driven learning, the graduates are not only future-ready but future-responsible, equipped with core competencies like systems thinking, ethical and risk-based decision-making, and functional skills in sustainability, resource management, and stakeholder engagement.