The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), in collaboration with its Global Education and Training Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction (GETI) office, successfully culminated its four-part online masterclass series on applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to disaster risk reduction (DRR) entitled Masterclass Series- Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Mr. John Michael C. Ibarra, CHP, CGSP, MSHRM from the Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) Department of SMU, was among the successful completers of the online series. His successful completion of this vital training, which emphasizes integrating new technological knowledge into practice, aligns directly with two core values of Saint Mary’s University’s  Excellence and Social Responsibility (often expressed as Christ’s Mission or community-building) which could be applied across diverse sectors to build safer, more resilient communities (Social Responsibility), underscoring the vital need to integrate DRR knowledge beyond traditional fields in the future. 

The sessions, which ran on September 9, September 23, October 14, and October 21, 2025, trained global civil servants in four key areas: AI basics and data processing; multi-hazard early warning systems; urban resilience and risk assessment; and ethical governance. This initiative aligns with the Sendai Framework to promote using AI’s predictive analytics to preempt crises like floods and storms.

The final masterclass on October 21, 2025, specifically highlighted the crucial importance of ethical principles, focusing on ensuring equitable and bias-free AI deployment to uphold trust and human rights in DRR.

The successful completion of this vital UNDRR training, which emphasizes integrating new technological knowledge into practice, aligns directly with the international effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, the masterclass directly supports SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by focusing on urban resilience and risk assessment (Target 11.b) and contributes to SDG 13: Climate Action by enhancing early warning and adaptive capacity (Target 13.1).

Written by: (Complete name, designation) Aryan L. Yuzon, Promotions Coordinator, School of Accountancy and Business
Layout by; Aryan L. Yuzon, Promotions Coordinator, School of Accountancy and Business
Photo by: John Michael C. Ibarra, HTM Department Head