Ateneo and the UN SDGs
SDG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 AIS SDG PROGRAM METRICS

Ateneo and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 4: Quality Education

Highlights

Ateneo de Manila’s Commitment to Quality Education

As a leading university in the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila is committed to providing high-quality education. The university offers both free and paid access to its libraries and fosters creativity and innovation through its learning spaces. Ateneo Graduate School of Business' Center for Continuing Education also provides opportunities for lifelong learning skills to the public. Various schools, departments, and centers within the university, such as the Institute of Philippine Culture and the Ateneo School of Government, contribute to public access to learning through open access and online seminars.

Ateneo also aims to promote inclusive education by offering scholarships that target underrepresented groups. Scholarships are available for disadvantaged individuals, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) at the graduate level, ensuring access to education while promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion.

Over the past three years, there has been a consistent increase in the percentage of graduates with teaching qualifications, reflecting successful efforts to prepare graduates for careers in education better. Similarly, lifelong learning measures have demonstrated positive growth, emphasizing a commitment to continuous learning opportunities beyond traditional education. However, there has been a slight decline in the percentage of first-generation students, highlighting the importance of inclusive policies and support mechanisms to ensure equitable access to education for all. Recommendations include enhancing preparation for careers in education, fostering lifelong learning through diverse programs, and prioritizing inclusive policies for first-generation students to promote diversity and equal opportunities in higher education.

Ateneo de Manila University: Programs on Climate Science and Environmental Sustainability

Ateneo de Manila University offers a comprehensive range of courses and degree programs that specifically teach climate science and environmental sustainability:

Department of Environmental Science
Undergraduate Program
  • BS Environmental Science: Interdisciplinary training combining natural sciences, social sciences, and management
    • Focus on environmental analysis, fieldwork, and real-world problem-solving
Graduate Programs (Environmental Science & Sustainability)
Climate and Disaster-Focused Program
John Gokongwei School of Management
Sustainability Management
Department of Physics
  • Climate Science (Specialized Program)
  • Master of Science in Atmospheric Science: 

    • Focus on climate science, meteorology, air quality, and disaster science; Conducted in collaboration with the Manila Observatory

Ateneo School of Government
  • Master in Public Management (MPM)  – Climate Change & Environmental Governance Track

    • Courses include environmental governance, climate policy, adaptation tools, and low-carbon development

 
For more information please visit:
Academic Programs | Environmental Science | Ateneo de Manila University

Ateneo Embeds Environmental Sustainability Training Across Students and Staff

Ateneo de Manila University integrates both social and environmental dimensions of sustainability into its programs for students and staff, ensuring that sustainability is embedded across teaching, formation, and institutional practice.

Environmental sustainability is incorporated into academic and co-curricular learning through initiatives such as the Bigkis Program, where junior students engage in service-learning by applying concepts from Economy, Society, and Sustainable Development and the National Service Training Program to partner communities. This is reinforced through annual Disaster Literacy modules and workshops, including required training for ROTC cadets, which focus on environmental awareness, disaster risk, and resilience. In the John Gokongwei School of Management, students participating in the JGSOM Student Enterprise Center Challenge receive semi-annual sustainability training on responsible business operations.

Orientation at one of the University's emergency stockpiles. Photo by AIS.
Orientation at one of the University's emergency stockpiles. Photo by AIS.

Student organizations are likewise supported through the Organizational Sustainability Audit of the Office of Student Activities, alongside annual Systems Thinking Workshops conducted by the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS). These initiatives guide student leaders in integrating sustainability into organizational practices, including resource efficiency, supply chain management, environmental stewardship, and climate resilience.

Ateneo OSA's hands-on approach to building a greener future
Ateneo OSA's hands-on approach to building a greener future

Complementing these student-focused efforts, Ateneo also provides dedicated environmental sustainability training for faculty and professional staff through AIS. These include the Climate and Disaster Literacy Workshops, as well as specialized programs such as Disaster Literacy Training, Climate Change Deep Dive, Climate Fresk, and the En-ROADS Climate Negotiation simulation developed with Climate Interactive and the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative. Delivered on a recurring basis, these trainings ensure that staff are equipped with the knowledge and tools to support the University’s sustainability goals.

Shaping Sustainable Students Through Data and Leadership Frameworks

The Laudato Si’ University-wide Baseline Study establishes baseline data on students’ understanding of sustainable development and integral ecology, while profiling their attitudes and sustainable lifestyle practices. Its findings inform targeted information, education, and communication strategies for students through two surveys and focus group discussions.

Complementing this, student engagement is strengthened through frameworks such as SOAR (Student Organization Accreditation and Recognition), which guides leadership and sustainability development in student organizations. The SOAR framework covers four key areas: Leadership and Member Formation, Organizational Capacity, Organizational Motivation, and External Environment Impact. Each area includes core determinants that set standards of excellence in student leadership and organizational practices, serving as the basis for evaluating student organizations and shaping recommendations for their accreditation.

SOAR Framework
The SOAR framework is divided into four main components: 
(1) Leadership & Member Formation, (2) Organizational Capacity, (3) Organizational Motivation, and (4) External Environment Impact.

Forming Communities of Care: Ateneo’s Social Sustainability Training Initiatives

Ateneo highlights policies related to the social aspects of Sustainability during the New Employees Orientation (NEO) to inform new employees as part of their onboarding process. Such topics are ethics and governance, non-discrimination, anti-corruption, and health and safety. From June - August 2025, UPT&OD oriented 61 new support employees.

New Employee Orientation (NEO)
New Employee Orientation (NEO)—a full-day program dedicated to welcoming new support and academic support employees into the vibrant Ateneo community.

Ateneo de Manila University, through the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, continues to advance social sustainability and community resilience through training programs that equip students and stakeholders with practical knowledge on sustainability, climate resilience, and disaster preparedness.

The University Gender and Development Office conducted several trainings for the Ateneo community, such as:  

  • Gender Sensitive Training and Onboarding with the Mission Integration Cluster (21 October 2025), the Office of Assistant Vice President for Graduate Education personnel and the Ateneo de Manila Multi-Purpose Cooperative (21 March 2026).
  • Signs of Solidarity: Learning FSL with Pinoy Deaf Rainbow: A workshop on Filipino Sign Language and Deaf LGBTQIA+ inclusion (14 October 2025)

AIS
AIS also hosted systems thinking workshops for resilience planning

Advancing Social Sustainability through Values-Based Formation and Inclusive Training

Ateneo de Manila University advances social sustainability by integrating key policies such as ethics and governance, non-discrimination, anti-corruption, and health and safety into its New Employees Orientation, reaching 61 support staff from June to August 2025. Complementing this, the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability delivers training programs on sustainability, climate resilience, and disaster preparedness, while the University Gender and Development Office promotes inclusive practices through initiatives such as gender sensitivity trainings and workshops on Filipino Sign Language and Deaf LGBTQIA+ inclusion, strengthening a culture of equity, inclusion, and community resilience.

Back to SDGs Home