Anent the 54th founding anniversary celebration of ASEAN, and to mark the commencement of the ASEAN and month celebration of the ASEAN community – the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office VI hosted a webinar via Zoom and broadcast Facebook Live through the CHED Region VI official Facebook page today, August 4.
Atty. Cinderella Filipina Benitez – Jaro, Executive Director IV of Office of the Executive Director Commission on Higher education shared insights as an inspirational speaker about CHED’s role in promoting the development of the ASEAN community, Philippine Qualifications Framework, revised General Education Curriculum, and other ASEAN related aspects and programs headed by CHED.
As the webinar promotes ‘fostering ASEAN relations through internationalization initiatives,” the Philippine Normal University (PNU) led by their president, Bert J. Tuga, Ph D. shared some of their experiences, insights and best practices of fostering through internationalization initiatives.
“Crucial to a successful internationalization program is a well-established internationalization framework and strategies for every institution,” Dr. Tuga explained.
She recommended that the framework should be nationally responsive, compliant to CHED policies, and aligned with the vision, mission, goals, and objectives of the institution.
Along with the two speakers, Raul F. Muyong, Ed. D., president of Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT U) and Ana May Y. Zerrudo, Ph.D., director of the Office of International Relations and Cooperation Central Philippine University shared as well some of their internationalization strategies and successes, and accomplishments regarding the internationalization.
“Internationalization initiatives are truly expensive initiatives, that is why it would take a committed and dedicated leadership particularly from the president itself to support all these initiatives,” Dr. Zerrudo explained.
She furthered that if the university is willing to spend for this kind of initiative (bringing faculty members to attend in conferences,) that will make their faculty and staff fully equipped such that the benefits will definitely outweigh the cost.
This month’s ASEAN Celebration activities will feature activities that promotes friendship, cooperation and solidarity among countries in the ASEAN region.
The theme of this year’s ASEAN celebration is “PADYAK! Moving Forward, Claiming Victory for Philippine Higher Education in the ASEAN Community.”
Written by Samantha Joy Quiman
The PRISM 