Sustainability Training in Ateneo

Ateneo de Manila University conducts various social and environmental sustainability training programs for students, faculty, and staff.

Social Sustainability

A 2-hour Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) for faculty and staff, led by the University Gender Hub and Decorum and Investigation Office,  fosters inclusivity, gender sensitivity, and responsible governance, ensuring awareness of professional boundaries and inclusivity policies.

The  3-hour INTACT program  for freshies includes Safe Spaces modules, educating students on gender equality, respectful communication, and the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313). The University Gender and Development Office (UGDO) also mandates GST for all personnel and higher education students, integrating discussions on sexual harassment policies and inclusivity challenges.

Environmental sustainability:

Additionally, through various offices, the University conducts environmental sustainability training mainly for staff, student leaders,s and student organization members.

• Student-led organizations and student leaders (Office of Student Activities)

In partnership with Ateneo Global Leadership Program delegates, the Office of Student Activities - College conducted a 3-hour  Sustainability Design Thinking Workshop Series in March 2024, engaging 181 participants from 37 student organizations. The workshops guided students through structured activities—framing sustainability challenges as opportunities ("How Might We’s"), developing solutions ("Storyboard of the Supervoted"), and anticipating challenges ("The Triptych"). The series culminated in the EcoEngage Conference, where student leaders co-authored a manifesto committing to sustainability in organizational activities, laying the foundation for a five-year sustainability development program.

• Students (Ateneo Institute of Sustainability)

The Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS) led three sustainability-focused workshops during this year’s Talakayang Alay sa Bayan (TALAB) on October 15. The sessions, which engaged over 160 participants, aimed to deepen students’ understanding of sustainability in line with the theme "Integral Ecology: Caring for Our Common Home."

The workshops included "One Big Hive: Reimagining the Campus," where participants explored campus sustainability through a walk and design-thinking activities. The "BiodivLab Aquatic Insect Workshop" introduced hands-on aquatic insect collection and identification, highlighting biodiversity conservation. Lastly, "Unpacking Sustainability: Navigating Tensions in Our Common Home" provided insights into sustainability challenges through interactive discussions.

The Organization Sustainability Audit for ESG Practices

The Organization Sustainability Audit, developed by the Office of Student Activities and Ateneo GLP 2023 delegates, serves as a framework for embedding sustainability practices within student organizations, aligning with Laudato Si’ principles. This audit evaluates sustainability efforts across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions, ensuring that present initiatives do not compromise future needs.  

The framework includes key components such as assessing the current organizational state, examining sustainability practices like awareness campaigns and carbon footprint offsets. It also reviews organizational events, focusing on eco-friendly measures such as meat-free food options and waste management. The audit further explores sustainability knowledge, ranking organizations' understanding of resource use, and identifies sustainability goals for long-term improvements.  

Through this structured approach, the audit empowers student organizations to adopt practical sustainability strategies, fostering a culture of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and ethical governance within the university community.

With experts from AIS and the Ateneo Biodiversity Research Laboratory guiding the sessions, the workshops reinforced AIS’s commitment to sustainability education, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to environmental resilience.