Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. (HCCCI) proudly joined the international stage as its student-researchers from the College of Business Studies and Accountancy presented the study “Understanding Financial Practices and Literacy Levels of Working College Students” at the 8th Social & Humanities Research Symposium (SoReS) of the Bandung Annual International Conference (BAIC) 2025, held in Bandung, Indonesia.

BAIC is an annual gathering of universities and scholars from around the world, hosted by HCCCI's partner school in Indonesia, Universitas Islam Bandung. It provides a platform for the exchange of ideas in education, business, social sciences, and technology. With the theme of advancing global perspectives through research and collaboration, the 2025 edition highlighted how academic work can contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The HCCCI research, conducted by Allysa Mae Judilla, Juna Marie Bucasas, John Lloyd Vincent Españar, John Mark Eser, and Nerressa M. Montejo, MBA, CHRA, CFMS, CFMP, examined the financial realities of working college students. Findings showed strong skills in budgeting and saving, but also revealed challenges in credit management and investment. Importantly, the study established a strong correlation between financial literacy and effective financial practices, underscoring the importance of equipping students with financial education that extends beyond the classroom.

This research aligns with several key SDGs: No Poverty (SDG 1) by promoting financial empowerment among youth, Quality Education (SDG 4) by highlighting the need to integrate financial literacy into higher education, and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) by preparing students with practical skills for sustainable livelihoods.

For HCCCI, presenting this study at BAIC 2025 was both humbling and inspiring. It reflects the institution’s vision of nurturing learners who can transform challenges into opportunities, and it demonstrates that meaningful contributions to global conversations can come from the lived experiences of students in Mindanao. By supporting research that is both community-rooted and globally relevant, HCCCI continues to champion education that is sustainable, transformative, and aligned with the world’s shared goals.