In celebration of the University of Santo Tomas’ 414th founding anniversary and the 30th anniversary of its Educational Technology Center, UST successfully hosted the conference themed “Harnessing EdTech 5.0 as Catalyst for Sustainable and Transformative Innovations” on May 15 and 16, 2025. This milestone event brought together over 250 participants from across the academe, industry, and government, uniting thought leaders and practitioners to explore the future of education in the age of intelligent, immersive, and human-centered technologies.
Jointly organized by the UST Educational Technology (EdTech) Center and C&E Adaptive Learning Solutions, and backed by a roster of esteemed sponsors and partners, the conference served as a dynamic platform to exchange insights and showcase innovations aligned with EdTech 5.0. With four major plenary sessions, two panel discussions, 19 paper presentations, and eight hands-on workshops, attendees were immersed in discussions on ethical artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability in digital learning, workforce readiness, and transformative pedagogies.
Keynote speakers included Dr. Naoki Suzuki of Tokyo Gakugei University, who discussed “Transforming Learning Through Innovative Pedagogies, Immersive and Emerging Platforms for Future-proofed Skills Development” and UST College of Education Assistant Dean Louie B. Dasas, Ph.D, who presented “Unlocking EdTech 5.0’s Potential: Human-Centered AI, Ethical Data, and the Future of Personalized Education”
Mr. Jullian Dominic D. Ducut of the UST Senior High School also talked about “Powering Industry 5.0: Data, Skills, and the Future-Ready Workforce” while Prof. Donald G. Manlapaz, Ph.D., of the UST College of Rehabilitation Sciences discussed “Connected for Good: Technology at the Intersection of Sustainability, Security, and Health.” Their talks underscored the importance of personalized learning, cross-sectoral collaboration, and technological adaptability in building future-ready education systems.
Panel discussions also gathered the nuanced insights of Dr. Elenita N. Que (UP College of Education), Prof. Takashi Fukushima (Tokyo Gakugei University), Dr. Devy M. Galang (Philippine eLearning Society) Mr. Raphael Walker (Accredify), Engr. Ericson D. Dimaunahan (Mapua University), Assoc. Prof. Wilben Christie R. Pagtaconan (Philippine eLearning Society), and Asst. Prof. Elfritzson M. Peralta, MSc (UST College of Science), in the topics “EdTech 5.0: Charting a Course for Sustainable and Transformative Innovations” and “Securing Our Future: EdTech 5.0 and the Call to Action for Sustainable and Transformative Living”.
The conference also celebrated UST’s recent induction into the prestigious Digital Education Council and highlighted its recognition in the Silver Tier of the Times Higher Education Online Learning Rankings. Interactive workshops such as the Student StartUP event “ClashBytes,” XR & Metaverse Integration workshop, AI workshops for teachers and students, Arduino workshop, STEAM solutions workshop, and the EdTech Ecosystem showcase provided opportunities for real-time innovation demonstrations and collaboration. In addition, a nostalgic summary of the EdTech Center’s history was also presented at the conference, with former administrators honored on stage for their contributions.
Staying true to the theme of the conference, innovative and sustainable practices were implemented during the two-day event. Environmentally conscious efforts such as digital verifiable badges, reusable lanyards, and sustainable dining materials were used, reflecting UST’s commitment to sustainability and the teachings in the late Pope Francis’ encyclical titled Laudato Sí. As a confluence of legacy and innovation, the EdTech 5.0 Conference not only achieved its objectives but also paved the way for a more connected, inclusive, and resilient digital learning landscape in the Philippines and beyond.