PTAB champions innovation and impact at research conference

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Approximately 70 participants gathered for the 3rd Research Conference of the Philippine Teachers Association of Bahrain (PTAB) on November 28, 2025, at the University of Technology Bahrain.

The environment was both serene and dignified, yet infused with dynamic energy, as educators, practitioners, researchers, and industry partners convened.

This event underscored the growing research culture not only among overseas Filipino educators but also within global research communities and their collaborators in the kingdom.

The conference, themed “Academic Transformation Driven by Innovation and Sustainability,” emphasized PTAB’s dedication to promoting a research-oriented educational culture among overseas Filipino teachers in Bahrain.

Opening and plenary session

The event commenced with the national anthems of Bahrain and the Philippines, followed by an invocation.

This was succeeded by welcoming remarks from Dr. Arturo C. Basbas, the PTAB Research Chair, along with messages from PTAB President Ms. Rowena M. Desierto and Dr. Firas Saidi, who is the Head of the UTB AI & Metaverse Research Center.

In his welcoming address, Dr. Arturo G. Basbas passionately advocated for enhanced collaboration among educators, school administrators, and industry stakeholders in Bahrain, urging them to jointly develop solutions to the significant challenges related to academic transformation.

Research, innovation and collaboration

Guided by PTAB President Ms. Rowena Desierto and Research Chair Dr. Basbas, this year’s conference assembled participants from a diverse array of schools, universities, industries, and partner institutions.

The assembly highlighted the importance of collaboration in realizing sustainable educational transformation.

The plenary speaker, Dr. Carlo Domingo C. Casinto, was introduced by Dr. Jose Dennis G. Dureza, a member of the PTAB Research Committee. During his address, Dr. Casinto stressed that research ought to be regarded as both a professional obligation and a means of advocacy, particularly in domains such as inclusion, learner well-being, and culturally responsive pedagogy.

He encouraged attendees to perceive research as a continuous cycle of inquiry, reflection, and innovation.

Dr. Casinto, the Program Manager at the School of Lifelong Learning at Bahrain Polytechnic, inspired the conference’s intellectual direction.