UST Institute of Religion and UST Graduate School (GS) Academic Staff Assoc. Prof. Philip L. Fuentes, Ph.D., represented the Graduate School at the recently held 6th APSPA International Conference 2024. The conference, themed “Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Human Development and Learning: Navigating the Nexus of Education, Psychology, Business, Language, and Philosophy,” was jointly organized by the Asia Pacific School Psychology Association (APSPA) and Assumption University (AU) in Thailand from November 28 to 30, 2024.
Fuentes’ participation was a way to renew the partnership between the GS and AU, where he also presented his paper at the conference. Titled “The Catholic OFW’s Faith Experiences and Their Perceptions of the Philippine Church’s Mission of Pastoral Care for Filipino Migrants: A Descriptive Study,” his paper emphasizes the vital role of faith in supporting Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), particularly during challenging times. The study’s findings and recommendations provide valuable insights for the Catholic Church in the Philippines, aimed at enhancing her pastoral care for Filipino migrants.
The conference featured esteemed scholars as keynote speakers who provided valuable insights into the issues of mental health within the academic realm. The alarming incidents of student suicides in the world, particularly in Asia, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, was also a central topic during the Roundtable Discussion. Panelists emphasized the role of the academic community in addressing mental health concerns, advocating for robust guidance and counseling services with well-trained personnel to support students.
The conference also featured the Parallel Sessions, in which the academicians, practitioners, and graduate students were provided a platform to present the highlights of their diverse findings in addressing mental health. In their presentations, they highlighted various approaches to mental health, stress, and depression, including strength-based interventions, AI applications, and multidisciplinary methods for managing learning disabilities.
During the closing ceremony, the organizing committee presented the resolutions from the 8th APSPA General Body Meeting and the 6th APSPA International Conference, as outlined in the conference proceedings. The organizing committee has resolved to promote school psychology research, lobby the governments to establish school counseling centers staffed with qualified psychologists to enhance student well-being, form a council within the Asia Pacific region to regulate and license school psychologists effectively and recommend that universities introduce undergraduate and postgraduate programs focused on school psychology.
Fuentes actively participated in the cultural and networking activities, allowing new connections with other universities to be formed.
