MAY 12, 2026 — Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) successfully wrapped up the two-day Strategic Futures Workshop: Futures Thinking Towards Sustainable Development Using the ACACIA Framework via Zoom. Organized by the Research, Innovation, and Extension (RIE) Division through the Center for Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight (FTSF), and in partnership with the Philippine Futures Thinking Society (PhilFutures), the activity forms part of a broader series of capability-building initiatives.
Attended by NwSSU key officials, deans, and heads of offices, this workshop aimed to institutionalize futures thinking and anticipatory governance within the institution, laying the groundwork for activities such as the Campus Futures Thinking Workshop and Research Caravan in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Day 1 sessions featured Mr. Emmanuel De Guia, Resident Futurist of the Senate Committee on SDGs, Innovation, and Futures Thinking, who guided participants in shifting mindsets and rethinking assumptions about the future. Dr. Rupert S. Sangalang, Senior Fellow of PhilFutures, was also featured in the Day 1 sessions. He introduced the ACACIA Framework as a structured approach to align institutional identity, local values, and global development goals in crafting strategic plans.
Meanwhile, Day 2 focused on deepening participants’ grasp of foresight methodologies and shaping the university’s envisioned future. The session began with an “Introduction to the Process of Strategic Foresight,” which broke down the systematic steps used to analyze trends, explore uncertainties, and prepare for long-term possibilities.
​The Day 2 session continued with “Future Possibilities: Ideate The Vision,” led by Ms. Jalaine Joyce V. Malabanan, Fellow at PhilFutures. She facilitated collaborative discussions and creative exercises, guiding participants to brainstorm, refine, and articulate shared aspirations—turning abstract ideas into concrete concepts that will serve as building blocks for the university’s long-term vision.
​Central to the entire initiative is defining the path toward Project HANDUM 2050: The Futures of NwSSU. Handum, a term widely used in the Hiligaynon and Waray-Samar dialects, translates to collective aspiration, shared vision, and purposeful imagination—values that serve as the philosophical foundation of the university’s futures initiative. With the conclusion of this workshop, the university now has a solid foundation to develop a comprehensive, inclusive, and forward-looking roadmap that will steer its growth, strengthen its community impact, and advance its contribution to sustainable development.
​This initiative equips NwSSU with the mindset and shared vision needed to navigate change confidently while ensuring that every plan and decision made every day aligns with the desired future it aims to build.
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