UST HAS sealed a partnership with the Philippine Council of Mathematics Teacher Educators, Inc. (MATHTED) to host the 15th Biennial and International Conference on Mathematics Education, marking the first time the event will be held in UST.
A memorandum of agreement was signed Aug. 13 by UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P., and MATHTED President Catherine Vistro-Yu. They were joined by faculty members from UST’s College of Science, College of Education, Senior High School, and Junior High School, and MATHTED board members.
The College of Science, the main host, will lead preparations, assisted by the College of Education and the University’s basic education units. The event coincides with the centennial celebrations of Science and Education.
“UST and MATHTED have a common desire to improve and exert positive influence in advancing mathematics education and engaging research among mathematics educators and researchers as potent tools for national progress,” Vitus Paul de Jesus, chair of the local organizing committee, said.
Scheduled from Oct. 16 to 18, the conference will have the theme “Mathematics Education for Learning Futures: Towards the Fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The conference will gather teachers, researchers, policymakers, and administrators from local and international institutions for three days of exchanges through paper and poster presentations, workshops, panels, and special interest group discussions.
Assoc. Prof. Mary Jane Castilla, overall chair of the conference, underscored the need for collaboration in addressing systemic problems in education.
“We want to hear the voices of teachers, researchers, government policymakers, and the global community,” she said.
One of the highlights of the gathering will be the first-ever “MATHTED Early Career Researcher’s Day” on Oct. 15, designed to mentor undergraduate thesis writers, graduate students, and early-career educators.
“Sa Philippines, ang tendency ay sa latter part na nagiging researcher (ang educators),” organizing committee member Jenny Lou Bermejo said. “Dito pa lang, we want to establish the sense of belongingness in the field of research.”
Aimed at advancing mathematics education and research, the conference will serve as a channel where educators can openly talk about strategies in teaching mathematics.
“The MATHTED conference actually gives an opportunity for mathematics teachers to present whatever findings they have in order to alleviate mathematics education in the Philippines,” Asst. Prof. Arturo Patungan Jr., another member of the local organizing committee, said.
UST’s proposal to host the biennial conference was raised during the 2023 MATHTED conference in Iloilo and received strong support.
“UST is chosen as the host university because of its commitment to improving the quality of mathematics education, research, and development of the country,” local organizing committee member Asst. Prof. Guiniver Vera said.
De Jesus said UST plans to sustain active participation in MATHTED initiatives.
“The conference is a venue for mathematics educators to gather, to discuss their research, exchange ideas, and build networks and professional learning communities,” he said.
