27/08/2026
Cagayan Valley HEIs unite through ASEAN Connect for inclusive internationalization, global cooperation
TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYANโAs the Philippines takes ASEAN Chairship, the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office II (CHED Region II), in partnership with Cagayan State University (CSU), unites Cagayan Valley higher education community toward deeper ASEAN regional integration during โASEAN Connect: Celebrating Unity in Diversity Through Education, Culture, and Innovationโ on August 25, 2026.
Anchored on this yearโs theme, โNavigating Our Future, Together,โ the regional celebration brought together presidents, Officer-in-Charge, Heads, Vice Presidents, International Relations Officers, faculty members, students, and other higher education stakeholders of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in a convergence of culture, academic excellence, quality assurance, and internationalization.
More than a celebration of ASEAN's colors and cultures, ASEAN Connect served as a strategic platform for translating regional cooperation into concrete opportunities for Cagayan Valley HEIs. Through academic discussions, cultural exchanges, institutional partnerships, and student engagement, the initiative strengthened ASEAN awareness while advancing CHED's thrust toward inclusive and impact-driven internationalization.
CHED Region II Director Dr. Julieta M. Paras, CESO III, set the direction of the gathering by challenging HEIs to move internationalization beyond isolated activities and make it an integral part of institutional development. โFrom activities to strategy. From participation to institutionalization. From opportunities for a few to meaningful internationalization for many. And from simply being internationally active to becoming internationally relevant and impactful,โ she emphasized.
She encouraged academic leaders to establish their Strategic Internationalization Plans (SIPs) as an institutional priority, stressing that internationalization must find its way into curriculum, faculty development, research, student development, partnerships, quality assurance, and even institutional budgeting and resource allocation.
Supporting this regional solidarity is Dr. Christine Nabor-Ferrer, Director IV and Director-in-Charge of the CHED International Affairs Service (IAS), delivering a keynote address on โAdvancing ASEAN Higher Education Through Quality Assurance, Internationalization, and Academic Excellence.โ She underscored that quality assurance and internationalization are no longer optional additions to higher education but foundational pillars of academic excellence. She urged HEIs to embrace robust quality frameworks such as the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA), cultivate meaningful international partnerships, and expand opportunities for cross-border research and mobility.
She further emphasized that internationalization extends beyond sending students overseas. It requires embedding global perspectives, intercultural understanding, and collaborative problem-solving into everyday teaching, learning, and research within institutions.
The keynote likewise placed Region II's initiatives within the broader direction of the Philippine ASEAN Chairship. Director Ferrer highlighted three landmark outcome documents adopted by ASEAN Higher Education Ministers that will help shape the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026โ2030: (1) the ASEAN Ministerial Statement on Access to Quality Higher Education through Digital Transformation and Sustainability; (2) the Terms of Reference for the ASEAN Centre of Excellence for Teacher Education and Development (ACTED); and (3) the ASEAN GEMS Plus Initiative.
These regional directions, she emphasized, are not merely policy statements but operational opportunities that can translate into concrete benefits for universities, faculty members, researchers, and students.
A major milestone of the ASEAN Connect was the Ceremonial Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Building Resilience and Innovation in Developing Global Engagements (BRIDGE) Initiative and the โAdopt an Institutionโ Framework for Internationalization.
The partnership brought together CHED Region II, Cagayan State University, Isabela State University, Nueva Vizcaya State University, Saint Mary's University, University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao, and University of Cagayan Valley in a shared undertaking to strengthen institutional capacities and broaden internationalization opportunities among HEIs in the region.
Director Ferrer described the collaboration as an example of institutions lifting one another toward global standards, translating the spirit of ASEAN cooperation into institutional action.
Quality assurance likewise took center stage in the learning sessions. Fr. Ranhilio C. Aquino, University Legal Consultant of Cagayan State University, discussed โUnderstanding ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA): Framework, Principles, and Regional Relevance,โ providing participants with a deeper appreciation of the regional quality assurance framework and its role in strengthening academic programs.
Complementing the discussion, Ms. Pearl Via S. Coballes, RGC, RPm, Director of the Human Resource Development Office of Saint Mary's University, tackled โAUN-QA Membership and Its Benefits in the Quality Assurance of Higher Education,โ highlighting how engagement with regional quality assurance mechanisms can support institutional development and greater ASEAN connectivity.
Beyond academic discourse, ASEAN Connect transformed regional integration into a vibrant cultural experience. The Parade of Colors: ASEAN Costume and Cultural Showcase brought the identities of ASEAN Member States to life through participating students representing different ASEAN Countries, while the Flavors of ASEAN Cultural Cuisine Exhibit showcased iconic food, delicacies, beverages, attire, traditions, and cultural identities from across the region. Folk dances performed by the ASEAN Muse and Prince representatives and cultural performances further celebrated the diversity that binds the ASEAN community together.
The celebration was strengthened by Cagayan State University's role as partner institution, with its leadership, and cultural performers, supporting the regional undertaking. In her opening remarks, Paras recognized CSU's contribution as an embodiment of the very principle ASEAN represents, that greater possibilities emerge when institutions choose to collaborate.
As ASEAN Connect concluded, the celebration left Region II HEIs with a challenge that reaches far beyond a single day of cultural festivities. Under the Philippines' call to โNavigate Our Future, Together,โ CHED Region II is pushing internationalization from participation toward institutional transformation, where partnerships produce impact, quality opens doors to global recognition, and ASEAN cooperation creates opportunities that reach even the ordinary learner.
