The UST Industrial Engineering Circle (UST IEC) brought pride to the University after being awarded as one of the Outstanding United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Clubs for the 2022 College Level and Science and Technology Category last September 25, 2022, announced via UNESCO’s Facebook page.
In applying for re-accreditation, UST IEC submitted documents about the programs they facilitated last year: HINAGAP: We Stand As One, Breakthrough, Forging Ahead, Paper for All, VIRTUAL: Venturing Into Remote Transition with Unique Approaches for Learning, IE-Land: The Industrial Engineering Night 2021, GOING IELC: Industrial Engineering Leadership Congress, and IE PODCAST: “IEwan Ano Ba’ Yun.”
These projects exemplified UNESCO’s values and principles of fostering cultural diversity and advancing world peace and development. Moreover, the officers’ efforts to promote social development among Thomasian Industrial Engineering students were also considered as contributing factors to the recognition.
“Para sa akin malaki ang impact niya. It can serve as an inspiration for Industrial Engineering students na we can also be leaders of our own. Even though estudyante pa rin ang IEC officers, winning the award reflects that they are doing their job well. And also IEs are known to be leaders of the industry someday. It is a training ground for them,” Engr. Yoshiki B. Kurata, PhD, CIE, Assoc. ASEAN Engr., the Adviser of UST IEC, mentioned after being asked about the impact of the award on the Thomasian IE Community.
“For those students na medyo hesitant, as they are doubting themselves, I hope this award can serve as a model for them that anyone among us can also be recognized as long as we value the Thomasian values that we have,” He added.
After receiving the award, UST IEC plans to continue to lead, serve, and provide projects for the improvement and development of Thomasian Industrial Engineering students.
“Speaking as an adviser, to help other organizations to also be part of UNESCO, this award is not just the award of the IEC or IE department but is also a recognition that Faculty of Engineering student leaders are actually doing well. Kasi we do not just represent IE alone, but we represent the whole Faculty of Engineering,” Engr. Kurata answered when asked about the organization’s future plans in relation to the recognition.
Written by: Justine Keith Moises
Photo Courtesy of UNESCO Clubs Philippines
