The Asia-Pacific Student Services Association (APSSA) held its 15th APSSA International Conference last June 26-29, 2016 at Chiang Mai University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The conference focused on the theme: “Youth for Well-being and Sustainable Development”. The three-day event, attended by student affairs practitioners and students in the Asia-Pacific region, was composed of various plenary sessions and panel discussions which revolved on the following subtopics: 1) Environment and Sustainability, 2) Mobility, Networking, and Collaboration, 3) Promotion of Sports and Health for Well-Being, and 4) Impact in Politics, the Economy, and Sustainable Development.
The University of Santo Tomas was represented by Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Director Prof. Evelyn Songco, PhD, OSA staff Ms. Thelma Maraña, and student leaders Ferdinand Nykko Bautista and Raymond John Naguit, both from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
A paper authored by Dr. Songco entitled “An Assessment of San Lorenzo Ruiz Scholars in the University of Santo Tomas” was also presented during the research colloquium. The study is about the experiences and aspirations of the San Lorenzo Ruiz scholars who belonged to marginalized families. Scholarship policy makers may use this paper as a guide to enhance implementation of currently existing scholarship programs in their respective universities.
