Miriam College Department of International Studies is one of the collaborators of the 2022 International Law Students’ Conference (ILSC) which was held last September 6-8, 2022 via zoom platform. The ILSC was organized by Universiti Teknologi MARA (Malaysia) together with the other collaborators such as the Universitas Gadjah Mada (Indonesia), Universitas Pelita Harapan (Indonesia), and Yaroslav Mudyri National Law University (Ukraine). The theme for this 2022 conference is “Globalization, Innovation, and Sustainability”. It serves as an international platform for undergraduate students worldwide to share experiences and innovation sharing, apart from providing opportunities for networking and collaboration in a multi-disciplinary platform.
Ten Miriam College students from the International Studies Department attended the conference, namely Ma. Angelica Therese Boquiren, Alessandra Causapin, Zara Mae Cubacub, Erica Jasmine De Leoz, Irish Shayne Francisco, Hana Marie Monje, Danielle Noche, Dominique Althea Policarpio, Maureen Rosario, Zoe Nicola Verzo, and Charlize Yap.
Aside from the paper presentations, there were also a variety of activities with diverse topics of discussion and fun sessions where students can interact and have fun engaging with other participants. The sessions discussed topics that include the Importance of Developing the Leadership Skills in Higher Institutions and Navigating Through Mental Health Issues Among the Students in Higher Institutions.
The speakers spoke about their experiences as student leaders during the networking session. How being a leader needs two core values: integrity and respect. Both are needed, and one cannot exist without the other. One of the speakers also mentioned that to become a true leader, one must be able to know themselves first. A leader must know how to handle themselves and manage their stress, specifically having a clear mind during decision-making. The session provides an avenue for students to further improve their leadership skills without compromising their mental health.
Alongside being a true leader is good mental health. It was discussed that universities tend to overlook mental health. Thus, a lot of students drop out, primarily due to pressure and other factors that negatively affect their performance. Charlize, one of the IS participants, said that “We must not let that happen and be responsible for taking care of our mental health. We should take time to retreat and recuperate when things are getting difficult. We must be aware of the media we consume online and should not be easily swayed by what we see online. Alongside the students’ effort, the universities must choose to support and serve the students, since the students are customers, in a way.”
The workshop allows the students to improve their social and collaborative skills through interactive games and sessions. Students were able to practice speaking skills through the exchange of conversations. During the Ice Breaking session, participants were able to introduce themselves and meet other participants. “I have come to realize that despite being culturally different, people can still come together and have a meaningful exchange of ideas as it makes the discussion of ideas unique. It’s heartwarming to see people from different cultures and backgrounds come together to participate in a cause that matters.”, according to Hana, one of the IS participants.
On the last day of the event, Dr. Melanie Reyes, the Chairperson of the International Studies Department, delivered the closing speech where she highlighted the importance of foundational values of sustainable globalization: collaboration, service, and communication, which are the central themes of the conference. The two-day conference is a steppingstone in attaining a sustainable world across countries through collaborative effort and exchanging ideas. “We are introduced to various concepts that make globalization work for all, and one of which is what we call the sustainable globalization, and this includes having accountability and looking at the long-term impacts of people’s action on the larger ecosystem.”, according to Dr. Reyes.
By: Angelica Boquiren, Erica De Leoz, Irish Francisco, Hana Monje, Danielle Noche, Dominique Policarpio, Charlize Yap
