𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 — In a strong demonstration of regional collaboration and commitment to 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙂𝙤𝙖𝙡 17: 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙨, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from General Santos City and Sarangani Province came together for a coordination meeting held on July 23, 2025, at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU).
Convened by the 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗫𝗜𝗜 (𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗥𝗢 𝗫𝗜𝗜), the meeting served as a preparatory convergence for the Week 1 celebration of 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, which will take place on August 8, 2025, at NDDU. Themed “𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲”, the regional celebration will highlight internationalization efforts and transnational higher education (TNHE) initiatives.
The coordination meeting was led by 𝙈𝙧. 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙂𝙪𝙮 𝙋. 𝘿𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙮, Education Supervisor II and IZN Focal, and 𝙈𝙧. 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙈. 𝙊𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙤, Project Technical Staff III for TNHE. Also present were NDDU Vice Presidents 𝘿𝙧. 𝙅𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙧 𝙄𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙤 and 𝘿𝙧. 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝘾. 𝘿𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙘, 𝙅𝙧., who joined HEI representatives, including International Relations Officers (IROs) and/or IZN focal persons, in planning collaborative strategies for the event.
Participants discussed unified program implementation, booth presentations and guidelines, and HEI commitment to various areas of preparations, all aligned with the goals of 𝙎𝘿𝙂 4 (𝙌𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣) and 𝙎𝘿𝙂 17 (𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙨).
The upcoming Week 1 celebration will feature keynote messages, panel discussions, cultural presentations, recognition of globally ranked HEIs in THE Impact Rankings and World University Rankings for Innovation.
This regional effort exemplifies how HEIs, when united under a shared mission, can drive meaningful change. By partnering across institutions and sectors, the celebration is not only a tribute to ASEAN solidarity but also a practical expression of education’s role in sustainable development.
