TOKYO, Japan—Mr. Cyril John C. Nagal, a DAAD-SEARCA Scholar and PhD student in environmental science at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), represented the Philippines at the 16th Asian Conference on the Social Sciences (ACSS2026) held at the Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan on 9–13 May 2026.
Organized by the International Academic Forum (IAFOR) in partnership with the IAFOR Research Centre at the Osaka School of International Public Policy (OSIPP), Osaka University, ACSS2026 convened scholars, researchers, educators, and practitioners from across the globe to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaborative partnerships across national and disciplinary boundaries.
During the international conference, Nagal presented his research paper titled "Developing an Ecoheutagogical Framework for Reframing Community Environmental Education and Watershed Resilience in Southeast Asia." The study explores an innovative approach to community environmental education by integrating ecoheutagogy, self-determined learning, and watershed resilience perspectives to strengthen sustainable environmental stewardship in Southeast Asian communities.
Nagal's participation in the conference was made possible through the support of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) under the SEARCA Scholar Support for Research Dissemination Grant. The grant enabled him to share his research on an international platform, reinforcing SEARCA's commitment to advancing scholarly excellence and promoting research that addresses pressing regional development and environmental concerns.
Reflecting on the experience, Nagal emphasized the value of international academic engagement in strengthening research perspectives and building scholarly networks. He noted that participating in ACSS2026 provided an important opportunity to exchange ideas with international researchers, gain insights from interdisciplinary discussions, and explore potential collaborations relevant to environmental education and socio-ecological resilience.
Since its establishment in 2009, IAFOR has served as a global platform for interdisciplinary scholarship, connecting researchers through conferences and collaborative initiatives involving universities, think tanks, international organizations, and government institutions. ACSS2026 further provided participants with opportunities to engage in sessions alongside the Asian Conference on Cultural Studies and the Asian Conference on Arts & Humanities, encouraging broader cross-disciplinary learning and dialogue.
Nagal's participation in ACSS2026 underscores the growing contribution of Filipino scholars to international discussions on sustainability, environmental education, and community resilience. Through research dissemination and academic collaboration, such engagements continue to strengthen evidence-based approaches to sustainable development in Southeast Asia.