The Lily’s inaugural roundtable discussion centers the importance of lifelong learning

^{Main photo: Prof Tan Eng Chye, President of NUS, during his presentation on “Lifelong Education for a Fast-Changing World.”}

On 21 November 2023, the Lily Gokongwei Ngochua Leadership Academy—also known as The Lily—held its inaugural roundtable discussion on issues and opportunities in Asian higher education. Hosted in partnership with the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, the hybrid discussion featured esteemed professors and leaders from higher education institutions across Asia. 

Delivering the welcome remarks, University President Fr Roberto C Yap SJ said: “This conversation is in the context of a region that has diverse and rich cultures and ecosystems as well as vibrant economies.” 

“While these discussions will not attempt to solve problems,” he continued, “we hope that the conversations can inspire us in our different contexts to look at new ways of leading our educational institutions or addressing our concerns and perhaps, even more purposefully, develop our future leaders.”

“The motto of the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD) is ‘Bago ang lahat, edukasyon.’ Translated, ‘Before anything else, education.’ In a play of words, ‘everything new in education.’ The motto rallies us to prioritize education as a foundation of our future,” Fr Yap ended. 

Prof Tan Eng Chye, President of the National University of Singapore (NUS), was the afternoon’s special guest speaker. “The future belongs to lifelong learners,” his talk began. His presentation on lifelong and continuing learning tackled the realities of education today, specifically forming lifelong learners, from its rationale to its challenges, and the steps NUS has taken to implement it into their curriculum. 

The discussion’s panelists included Dr Cynthia Rose Bautista, former Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education; Br Bernard S Oca, FSC, President of De La Salle University; Dr Paul Wilson, Principal, Madras Christian College (India); Dr -Ing., Wiyatiningsih, Rector, Duta Wacana Christian University (Indonesia); and Fr Roberto C Yap, SJ, President of Ateneo de Manila. Each got the chance to share their own views and experiences when it comes to lifelong learning—both in general, and within the context of their respective institutions.

Dr Pareena Lawrence, President of the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, delivered the afternoon’s closing remarks. “As we embark on this journey towards the future,” she said, “you know we understand that lifelong learning is no longer just a concept or a disposition that we want our students to have, but it is more than that, a reality which we must deliver on.”

Established in 2021, the Lily Gokongwei Ngochua Leadership Academy is an initiative of the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD) in recognition of the crucial role played by educational leaders and administrators in promoting access and quality in Philippine education.