The University Gender and Development Office, in collaboration with the Central Luzon Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLAARRDEC) and the International Affairs Office (IAO), opened the 4th International and 7th National Gender and Development Research Congress on November 19, 2025, at the Research and Extension Amphitheater.

Dr. Yoshihide Obayashi, Assistant Professor at Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan, delivered the international keynote address. Dr. John Paolo R. Rivera, Senior Research Fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, presented the national keynote titled “Accelerating Societal Inclusivity: Gender-Transformative Research for Sustainable Development.”
Plenary presentations were delivered by Dr. Khin Mar Cho, International Agriculture, Food Systems, and Nutrition Specialist and adjunct professor of the university, who discussed transforming food systems through gender-transformative research; and Dr. Hom Nath Gartaula, Senior Scientist for Gender and Social Research at the International Rice Research Institute and adjunct professor at the University of Guelph, who spoke on inclusive innovation and its role in gender-transformative research in agri-food systems.

The three-day congress is co-chaired by the International Affairs Office through Dr. Parsons N. Hail, Director, and Dr. Eduard C. Taganap, Chief of the Reputation and Visibility Unit.

The event features plenary sessions, high school and student research presentations, professional research and development paper presentations, poster exhibits, and a university tour.

Photo courtesy of University Gender and Development Office