USC Successfully Hosts ECOVIP Student Competition Showcasing Innovative Ecotourism Solutions
Cebu City, Philippines — The University of San Carlos successfully organized and concluded its edition of the ECOVIP Student Competition, providing a dynamic platform for Carolinian students to develop innovative, sustainable ecotourism projects.
As part of the Erasmus+ funded ECOVIP Project (“Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Ecotourism to Support Sustainable Development in Vietnam and the Philippines”), the USC Student Competition launched on June 16, 2024, followed by intensive training workshops from July 1 to 4, 2024. A total of 64 students attended the launch event, with 27 students actively participating in the workshops and 24 students advancing to the project pitching phase.
Students formed 7 multidisciplinary teams drawing from diverse programs including Tourism Management, Hospitality Management, Biology, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, and Computer Science. After rigorous mentoring and evaluation, 6 teams presented in the preliminary round, with 2 teams reaching the grand finale on July 12, 2024.
Team Bahandi was declared the winner for their outstanding project on Endemic Animal Conservation through sustainable encounters, integrated with gamification and web-based ancillary products. Team Packfinder earned runner-up honors with their innovative “Uber for Aquasports” equipment rental service. Other notable entries included Hibla (indigenous textile marketing platform), Lakaw sa Bakhawan (mangrove community ecotourism), Stonepath Tours (spelunking booking app), and Gastro Tour (local food crawl via mobile app).
The competition was led by faculty-in-charge from the Departments of Hospitality and Tourism, Business Administration, Biology, and Computer Science, including Prof. Vicente S. Maravilla Jr., Prof. Demetrio S. Anticuando, Prof. Ethel Dicdican-Catamco, and Prof. Julie Otadoy. A distinguished panel of jurors evaluated the entries based on innovation, sustainability, feasibility, and potential community impact.
This successful implementation of the ECOVIP Student Competition underscores USC’s strong commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable tourism education among its students.
Congratulations to all participating students, mentors, and faculty organizers for a vibrant and impactful competition!
