UNITAR Online Catalogue
CIFAL Philippines - Champions of Change and Innovation: UP Youth Summit on Sustainable Development Goals
People
University of the Philippines, Office of the President, UP Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, UP OVPAA - Office of Student Development Services, CIFAL Philippines (820), Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman
Background
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, provide a global blueprint to achieve a sustainable and inclusive future by 2030. With over 1.2 billion young people worldwide, youth are recognized as both beneficiaries and key drivers of the 2030 Agenda. More than one-third of SDG targets explicitly or implicitly reference youth engagement, empowerment, and well-being.
In the Philippines, young leaders play a critical role in advancing grassroots innovation, civic engagement, and sustainable development initiatives. Recognizing this potential, the University of the Philippines (UP), through its Office of the President and academic leadership units, organized its first-ever SDG Youth Summit to empower student leaders across the UP System.
The summit serves as a platform for learning, collaboration, and action planning, enabling participants to translate global SDG frameworks into community-based solutions.
Event Objectives
- To enhance UP student leaders’ understanding of sustainable development and the SDGs.
- To equip young leaders with practical skills and tools to implement SDG-aligned initiatives.
- To foster collaboration among student leaders across UP constituent universities.
- To strengthen youth leadership, governance, and civic engagement.
- To promote cultural diversity and artistic expression as drivers of sustainable development.
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To produce concrete, implementable SDG action plans for grassroots impact.
By the end of the summit, participants will:
- Demonstrate a deeper understanding of the SDGs and their relevance to youth-led initiatives.
- Identify priority SDGs relevant to their local communities and organizations.
- Develop leadership, project management, and governance skills aligned with sustainable development principles.
- Collaboratively design SDG-based project proposals and actionable strategies.
- Integrate arts, culture, and innovation into sustainable development advocacy.
- Commit to implementing structured SDG action plans within their communities.
Content and Structure
The two-day program includes:
Day 1
- Opening plenary on SDGs and youth leadership
- Lectures and thematic discussions on sustainable development
- Interactive workshops and hands-on activities
- Dialogue sessions on integrating SDGs into organizational mandates
- Cultural and artistic components highlighting diversity and sustainability
Day 2
- Collaborative breakout sessions among student leaders from different UP campuses
- Strategy development and joint planning activities
- Drafting of SDG project proposals
- Presentation of action plans
- Closing session and commitment-setting
The summit emphasizes experiential learning, peer exchange, and structured action planning.
Methodology
- Lecture-based knowledge sessions
- Interactive workshops
- Small group discussions
- Collaborative planning exercises
- Cross-campus peer exchange
- Project-based learning
- Arts and culture integration activities
The approach combines theoretical understanding of the SDGs with practical application and grassroots project design.
Targeted Audience
- UP student leaders
- Officers of student organizations
- Youth advocates within the UP System
- Emerging campus-based community leaders
Additional Information
- First-ever SDG Youth Summit hosted by the University of the Philippines.
- Aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and cross-cutting youth empowerment priorities.
- Designed to generate tangible outputs in the form of SDG project proposals.
- Strengthens the role of UP CIFAL Philippines as a hub for training, advocacy, and research related to the 2030 Agenda, migration, and gender equality.
- Supports national and regional youth leadership development in alignment with the UN 2030 Agenda.