๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) officially launched IGNIS, a transformative institutional initiative designed to translate global sustainability benchmarks into concrete on-campus impact, during a strategic planning event held at the Student and Alumni Center Amphitheater on 2 October.ย
Organized by the External Linkages and International Affairs (ELIA) Office, the gathering brought together the newly-constituted University Sustainability Council (USC) to assess TAU's performance in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings (SIR) and chart a course for future improvements anchored in sustainable development goals (SDGs).ย
The event commenced with an invocation, and inauguration led by Dr. Silverio Ramon DC. Salunson, TAU President, who delivered a message emphasizing the importance of institutional commitment to the SDGs.ย
Dr. Marianne P. Villaruel, ELIA Director, followed with a goal-setting session and a message of acknowledgment, underscoring the need to pivot from metric-driven benchmarking to systemic, on-campus impact. She also formally introduced the members of the USC.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation by Dr. Sheila R. Lingaya, Assistant Director of ELIA, who gauged TAUโs 2025 and 2026 THE SIR performance. Dr. Lingaya presented key highlights and institutional milestones, noting TAU's sustained participation since 2021 as the first Philippine state university included in the global assessment. She also identified critical areas for improvement based on insights from the 2023 and 2024 data.ย
Mr. Jerome L. Duque, Chief of the Sustainability Unit, outlined the next steps and future prospects for the University's sustainability journey. He presented the roadmap for THE SIR 2027, emphasizing the integration of TAU's efforts with the CHED Sustainability Database and briefing participants on the action plan. The session reinforced the rationale behind IGNIS, which includes eliminating administrative silos through inter-SDG and committee synergies, developing long-term capacity, and aligning with national frameworks to mobilize shared stakeholder ownership.
The session also focused on institutional alignment and engagement, facilitated by Ms. Caroline N. Gabis, Chief of Partnership Development. During this segment, SDG Champions, Committee Conveners, and members of the University Sustainability Council (USC) took the opportunity to share their respective plans and commitments for the upcoming cycle.ย
Following the strategic planning session for data collection and the alignment of institutional goals across the 17 SDGs, participants solemnly signed the commitment wall, symbolizing their unified pledge to advance TAUโs sustainability agenda and ensure the successful implementation of the IGNIS initiative.
The name IGNIS, derived from the Latin word for fire, symbolizes passion, light, and transformative energy, standing for Integrated Goals and SDG Networking for Impact and Sustainability.
#SmartTAU #GreenandGlobal #IGNIS #THESIR #SDG #SDG4 #SDG9 #SDG17
Text | Jerome L. Duque [External Linkages and International Affairs]
Photos | Jayson J. Elenzano [External Linkages and International Affairs]
Graphics | Carol Jane B. Caragay [Information Unit]