DISCO-HE Director Tats Quiblat speaks on engaging Gen Z learners at InTACT Homeroom Advisers’ assembly

In a dynamic and thought-provoking session titled “Beyond the Stare: Engaging with Gen Z Learners,” held last 4 August 2025 at Escaler Hall, Director Tats Quiblat of the Design and Innovation for Strategic Content for Higher Education (DISCO-HE) delivered a keynote talk to the Homeroom Advisers (HAs) of the Introduction to Ateneo culture and Traditions (InTACT) program.

InTACT plays a vital role in the formation of first-year students, introducing them not only to academic life but also to the deeper traditions, values, and community life of the University. As student profiles evolve, so must the approaches of their mentors.

In his talk, Quiblat invited educators to rethink their roles, not simply as content deliverers but as sense-makers, challengers, and co-creators in the classroom. drawing from Gen Z voices, cultural research, and classroom realities, the presentation unpacked the now-iconic “Gen Z Stare” and used it as a lens to explore the behaviors, motivations, and mental models of today’s learners.

The session emphasized empathy, relevance, and innovation in pedagogy, offering practical frameworks and reflection prompts for HAs to better connect with their students. It also challenged educators to move beyond generational comparisons and toward meaningful intergenerational understanding.

As the landscape of education continues to shift, initiatives like this underscore the University’s commitment to forming holistic, responsive, and future-ready learning environments, beginning with those who accompany students in their earliest Ateneo journeys.