The Department of Home Economics Education proudly congratulates its PhD in HE students who presented orally at the 2025 International Conference on Entrepreneurship and SME Development (ICESMED): Vanessa Zabala, Irish Cabtalan-Achondo, and Realyn Q. Salvador.

For many students in a research-heavy academic course, the transition from the quiet intensity of data analysis to the podium of an international conference is no easy feat. Presenting research to a global audience requires more than just the mastery of one's respective fields; it demands narrative skill, emotional resilience, and the ability to bridge different perspectives.

A few of the Department’s PhD students participated in the 2nd International Conference on Entrepreneurship and SME Development (ICESMED 2025), with the theme “The Twin Transition: Steering MSMEs Toward a Sustainable and Inclusive Future”. These students have also shared with us the journey of transitioning from writing their papers to presenting them orally.

The Challenge

The most common hurdle they all faced was “translating” their paper’s jargon for a broad audience. With participants coming from varied academic fields and professional backgrounds, the challenge was to ensure that the core message and theme of their papers maintained their academic integrity while still being understood by everyone in the room.

Beyond the academic challenge, the battle for self-confidence and the fear of the crowd far outweighed any academic or logistical problem these presenters have.

While their hurdles were great, special recognition has shown that they successfully converted nervousness into confidence. At the 2026 International Conference on Building Academic Capital: Research Productivity, Impact, and Publishing with Purpose, held last February 6 to 8, Ms. Realyn Salvador received the Best Presenter Award for her study titled “Empowering Food Enterprises Through a Food Safety Intervention Plan for Sustainability”.

Research as a Global Dialogue

A conference is more than a presentation; it is a high-level academic exchange. Ms. Realyn Salvador’s takeaway was particularly distinct, as she realized that a simple research paper can become a meaningful contribution to others when shared in the right space.

Ms. Vanessa Zabala highlighted the power of transparency. She shared the importance of critically evaluating your own research before presenting it to others. Acknowledging this to your audiences is crucial, as every research study has limitations; doing so honestly allows researchers to communicate their work with humility and transparency.  

Ms. Irish Cabtalan-Achondo emphasized sustainability as an economic driver rather than just an environmental obligation, showcasing how sustainable business models strengthen long-term resilience. These takeaways are not drawn from her experience alone, but from the conversations and discourse she listened to and participated in during her time at the conference.

The Journey Forward

Despite the "racing heartbeats," the overall experience was described as "life-changing," "rewarding," and "inspiring". Successfully engaging with an international audience validated their identities as researchers and affirmed that their work contributes meaningfully to global discussions on MSMEs and sustainability.

This experience has strengthened our scholars' resolve to continue developing studies for community development. As Ms. Salvador noted, the conference provided the confidence to "re-echo this experience" to their own students, encouraging the next generation, whether undertaking their PhD, their Master’s, or even as undergraduates, to step outside the box and onto the international stage.