Higher education institutions, academic leaders, and international partners gathered in Cebu for the 2-Day National Curriculum Reform Workshop and International Conference on Ecotourism and Entrepreneurship held from March 23 to 25, 2026 at the University of San Carlos – Talamban Campus.
The event was organized under the ECOVIP Project, an Erasmus+ co-funded initiative focused on fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development in ecotourism across the Philippines and Vietnam. It brought together representatives from the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas (LPU-B), the University of San Carlos, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Sergel I. Dacut and Dr. Hazel T. Venus of LPU-B. It forms part of Work Package 6 (WP6) of the ECOVIP Project, which focuses on curriculum development and enhancement of entrepreneurial competencies in ecotourism and entrepreneurship education.
The workshop centered on curriculum reform, stakeholder engagement, graduate employability, and the integration of entrepreneurial competencies into higher education programs. Experts and facilitators shared practical strategies and methodologies that institutions can adopt to strengthen sustainability, innovation, and responsiveness in academic curricula.
The culminating International Conference on Ecotourism and Entrepreneurship featured plenary discussions on digitalization, the role of artificial intelligence in tourism, the Sustainable Development Goals, and interdisciplinary approaches to entrepreneurship education. Experts from Portugal, Spain, Austria, and Vietnam presented international perspectives and best practices in ecotourism and innovation.
The event underscored ECOVIP’s continuing commitment to strengthening higher education, promoting sustainable tourism, and preparing graduates for the evolving demands of the global workforce.
