As part of the University鈥檚 efforts to collaborate with International Professional Organizations for the students鈥� academic & professional growth, the UST 鈥� Institute of Physical Education & Athletics (IPEA) hosted the 2024 Inaugural Summit for Internationally Outstanding Honor Students in Kinesiology on April 2-4, 2024, at the Multimedia rooms of the Quadricentennial Pavilion. The summit is the brainchild of Prof. Hosung So with IPEA co-organizing the event. Prof. So is the President and CEO of the International Organization for Health, Sports, & Kinesiology (IOHSK), a long-time institutional partner of IPEA.
The goal of the summit was to forge meaningful professional collaborations between the student delegates from different participating universities & colleges in the country and discuss innovative initiatives that will benefit the future of sports, health, and kinesiology. One of the highlights of the summit was the signing of the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of Santo Tomas, Davao Oriental State University, and IOHSK. The MOU signified the commitment of the three institutions in terms of collaboration and synergy in the field of kinesiology.
The 3-day summit also showcased a series of professional lectures from different resource speakers with diverse topics in the field of kinesiology namely: Prof. Dr. Jerome Porto, UST-IPEA Fitness and Sports Management Program Chairperson who discussed The Implications and Applications of SMART Fitness; Prof. Dr. Arvin Andacao, BPEd Program Head of Davao Oriental State University with his topic Sports Education as a Contextualized Model Within the University Implementation; Prof. Regine Rodriguez, BPEd Program Head of the University of the Immaculate Concepcion鈥揇avao who spoke about the Pivotal Role of Physical Literacy in Promoting Holistic Well-Being; Asst. Prof. Michael Lopez, Faculty Member of the UST-FSM program with the topic Mental Preparation for Achieving Peak Sports Performance; Mr. Andrew Marie Molano, Faculty Member of the UST-FSM program who discussed the Exercise Program Design with Focus on Resistance Training; and Asst. Prof. Genevive Gonzaga, BPEd Program Head of Cor Jesu College with the topic Impact of Self-Talk among Physical Educators. Also included in the roster of speakers is Prof. Dr. Thomas McKenzie, Professor Emeritus at San Diego University.
Prof. So of IOHSK also assigned collaborative research projects among the student delegates. The findings of the research projects that centered on the topics of Physical Activity & Self-esteem were presented by the student delegates during the last day of the summit. Aside from the professional lectures & research collaborations, a UST campus tour was organized in coordination with the UST – Office for Public Affairs.
Moreover, the participants of the event were also treated to a historical tour of Instramuros and a volleyball game at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, featuring the University鈥檚 women鈥檚 volleyball varsity team.
The inaugural summit was attended by 14 outstanding students coming from UST and several schools in Davao that include: Davao Oriental State University, Co Jesu College, University of the Immaculate Conception, University of Mindanao-Main Campus, St. John Paul II College of Davao, and Holy Cross College of Caliman.
The student summit served as a pre-event to the IOHSK International Conference, to be hosted also by the University of Santo Tomas this coming July, 2024.
