Faculty members of UP Open University (UPOU) presented papers during the Third Philippine/Japan Workshop on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS) Twinning for Human Capacity Building and Sustainable Development, Ifugao Satoyama Meister Training Program (ISMTP) Forum, at the Fourth High School Memorial Museum of Cultural Exchange, Ishikawa, Japan on 2 February 2017.
The forum was attended by representatives from the Philippines, specifically from UPOU, Ifugao State University (IFSU), Benguet State University (BSU) and Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC). From Japan, the representatives were from United Nations University Operating Unit Ishikawa Kanazawa (UNU-IAS), Information Media Center, Kanazawa University (KU), Noto Satoyama Satoumi Meister Training Program, Ishikawa Prefectural University, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Hokuriku, Think Locally, Act Globally, and Fujitsu.
Professor Koji Nakamura of Kanazawa University delivered the opening remarks afterwhich were the paper presentation of different speakers. From the Philippines, Prof. Napoleon Taguiling from IFSU presented the "Progress of the ISMTP from 2014-2016"; Prof. Romeo Gomez of MSU on "Challenges in Ecosystems in Benguet, Philippines"; Assoc. Prof. Melanie Subilla of MPSPC on "Challenges in Agriculture and Forestry in Mt Province, Philippines." Three faculty members presented their papers at the workshop, namely, Assoc. Prof. Joane Serrano of UPOU on "Developing Multi-media materials towards Sustainability and Resilience: the UPOU Experience"; Prof. Consuelo dL. Habito on the "Cost of Creating Open Educational Resources (OER) for Philippine Biodiversity"; and Asst. Prof. Aurora Lacaste (UPOU) on "Students' Experience in Conducting Biodiversity Studies in Selected Disturbed Areas and Critical Habitats in Laguna and Metro Manila, Philippines."
Speakers from Japan included Prof. Akiharu Morimoto of KU on "Recent Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure and Services in Kanazawa University"; Mr Michio Kojima of JICA Hokuriku on "JICA project update on ISMTP", Mr. Koji Ito of KU on "Place-based training in Team Maruyama", and lastly Miss Mikiko Nagai of UNU-IAS Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa on "Satoyama initiatives in Ishikawa and Kanazawa."
