EU works with Ateneo for sustainable energy program
On December 13, 2018, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ signed an agreement with the European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen regarding the implementation of “Clean Energy Living Laboratories (CELLs): The development of centres of excellence on energy access, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.” The project aims for stakeholders to respond to challenges brought about by energy and “seize opportunities” on sustainable production and consumption, particularly in handling a transition to sustainable low-carbon energy. It is one of the projects under EU’s Access to Sustainable Energy Program, which will run until 2021. Alongside Ateneo are EU’s other implementing partners, namely the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives-Local Governments for Sustainability, Manila Observatory, and Xavier University. Thea Unson
ADMU holds data and privacy conference
The Foundation for Media Alternatives and the University Data Protection Office hosted PANOPTICON: Privacy and ICT Conference on January 18 at Leong Hall. With the theme “privacy advocacy in a data-driven society,” the forum discussed data and privacy protection in the Philippines. It featured five panels, all of which tackled various topics: Privacy and Data Protection: Regional Perspectives, which studied at the state of data privacy outside Metro Manila, Data Protection in the Classroom, which tackled data in learning centers, Internet Intermediaries, Privacy, and a Borderless World, which contextualized growing data in systemic developments, Data-Driven Societies and the Individual Right to Privacy, which tackled data systems in the public and private sectors; and The Privacy Professional, which tackled Data Protection Officers as a career for Filipinos. The forum aimed to analyze the challenges in data privacy, recommend solutions, and share its most effective practices in the local context. Thea Unson
Annual Hult Prize calls for applicants
This year, the global Hult Prize, which aims to launch for-good, for-profit social enterprises, is calling for applicants at the Ateneo de Manila University. The program calls for young people to help solve socio-economic issues by “empowering them to make money, do good and make life better for millions of people” through launching businesses that serve “the least fortunate” and address “humanity’s greatest challenges” while at the same time pursuing existing and untapped markets, generating revenue, and creating market efficiency. The prize called for participants from November and December in 2018. Should competitors from the Ateneo be picked, they will be representing the school in upcoming regional finals. Thea Unson
Sanggunian President wins outstanding Rizal model student award
Representing the Ateneo de Manila University, Sanggunian President Hyacenth Bendaña (4 AB MEC) was named the Most Outstanding Jose Rizal Model Student of the Philippines in 2018. The award, contended by 19 other finalists from various schools, is given to students with exceptional and unrelenting patriotism and service in the national context. In a Facebook post, Bendaña said all the other contestants are “as equally deserving,” applauding them them for their love for the country, participation in sectoral practices, and protestations against systemic oppression. “Patuloy nating ipaglaban at bantayan ang kasarinlan ng Pilipinas (Let us continue fighting and guarding the independence of the Philippines),” she said in the same post. Thea Unson
