Ateneo professor presents abstract MicroCASA 2026 regional dialogue on microcredentials, policy, and digital transformation

Dr Dennis Batagan MD, Public Health Specialist, and Research Scientist at the Dr Rosita G Leong School of Social Sciences (RGLSOSS), presented an abstract at the recently concluded MicroCASA International Conference 2026.

The paper, co-authored with colleagues from the University of the Philippines Open University, was titled “Strengthening Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Through Microcredentials: A Digital Health Systems Approach Aligned with Universal Health Coverage.” It examined how microcredentials can address the growing burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries. 

The study discussed the design and implementation of an online microcredential focused on chronic disease prevention and management. It highlighted how microcredentials can rapidly upskill health professionals, strengthen workforce readiness, and support integrated, technology-enabled care models aligned with Universal Health Coverage principles.

Microcredentials for Southeast Asian Development

Held from 3 to 4 February at Universiti Sains Malaysia, the MicroCASA International Conference 2026 brought together educators, policymakers, quality assurance agencies, and industry leaders to examine how microcredentials can support lifelong learning, employability, and sustainable skills development in Southeast Asia.

Organized under the MicroCASA project funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, the conference focused on strengthening institutional capacity, trust frameworks, and regional cooperation in microcredential design, recognition, and quality assurance.

Key Panel Sessions

The conference featured two major policy-oriented panel discussions that anchored the regional conversation:

Panel session I, on Microcredentials and Regional Policy and panel session II on Sustainability and Digital Transformation. Focusing on the intersection of technology, workforce needs, and sustainable development, this session explored how digital transformation and microcredentials can support reskilling, upskilling, and inclusive access to education, while maintaining academic standards and relevance to labor markets.

Advancing Regional Collaboration

Across plenary talks, panels, and parallel sessions, the conference underscored microcredentials as a practical pathway toward more agile, inclusive, and sustainable education systems in Southeast Asia.