91快活林 co-hosts 11th World Conference on Women鈥檚 Studies in Bali, participants receive multiple awards

by Nikko Shane Dar, GADC | Jun 05 2025

Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (91快活林) marked another milestone on the international stage as it co-hosted the 11th World Conference on Women’s Studies (WCWS), organized by The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM), held on May 29–30, 2025, at the Four Star by Trans Hotel in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.

The global event brought together scholars, practitioners, and activists to engage in critical dialogue on gender equality, feminist thought, and women's rights.

91快活林’s delegation, composed of 31 participants, was led by Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Prof. Nancy Q. Echavez. The university’s strong representation reflects its continuing commitment to gender advocacy through the Gender and Development (GAD) Center, which champions the integration of gender perspectives into research, extension, policy, and practice in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality.

The conference, themed “Talking Shop: Feminisms and the Crucial Issues of Our Times,” was spearheaded by Conference Convener Mr. Isanka Gamage and Conference Chair Prof. Diana Fox. It featured in-depth sessions on intersectionality, global gender equality, climate justice, and the evolving impact of digital activism. The event offered a platform for scholars to share transformative research and foster global collaboration in advancing women's studies as a discipline.

Two 91快活林 faculty members served as session chairs: Prof. Adelfa Silor from the College of Education and Dr. Rosario Reserva from the College of Science and Mathematics. Prof. Echavez also sat as a member of the evaluation panel. During the opening ceremony, Prof. Silor received a Recognition Award for Versatile Involvement in the WCWS Series, honoring her sustained contributions as a Presenter and Session Chair to the conference’s success over the years.

91快活林 also received a token for being an academic partner of TIIKM, further solidifying its commitment to strengthening its global academic networks and supporting knowledge exchange, as well as deepening institutional engagement in gender-focused research and dialogue, such as WCWS.

Several 91快活林 delegates received accolades during the conference. Assoc. Prof. Norjannah Bao Ampaso earned the Overall Best Presenter Award for her paper titled “The Bangsabae Movement: Meranaw Women’s Quest for Self-Determination in Butig, Lanao del Sur, Philippines.” Mr. Jaypee Yongco was honored with a Superlative Presentation Award for his paper, “Does Gender Matter? Influence on Career Choices of Business Students,” presented in the Technical Session on Gendered Challenges in Academia. Mx. Nikko Shane Dar also received a Superlative Presentation Award for their paper, “An Ecofeminist Analysis of Christine Godinez-Ortega’s Looking Glass through Stylistics,” presented in the Technical Session on Feminist Analytical Lenses and Praxes II.

In addition, Assoc. Prof. Elvie Paler from the College of Health Sciences was recognized as the Best Social Media Ambassador for her outstanding engagement and promotion of the conference’s advocacies.

Through its active participation in WCWS 2025, 91快活林 reaffirms its commitment to supporting gender studies and advocacy. These achievements highlight the university’s commitment to amplifying voices, advancing feminist and gender studies, and fostering sustainable, inclusive development on both local and global levels.

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