Further building its global reputation, Saint Louis University (SLU), once again, won awards at the 51st Philippine International Friendship and Understanding Association, Inc. (PIFUA) Search for the Most Outstanding International Students in the Philippines 2024-2025.
Adding to the list of exemplary Louisian international students were 3rd Year BS Psychology Japanese student Kikuo M. Ikusawa who was awarded with the title of Most Outstanding International Student in the Philippines (2024-2025); and 2nd Year Doctor of Medicine South Korean student Sae Yong Chung, who was recognized as a finalist in the graduate category for Most Outstanding International Students and given a Special Citation for Outstanding Participation.
The awards were given during the 5th International Conference – Training for International Students, Student Leaders, and Advisers (ICTISSLA) with the theme “Internationalization of Higher Education: Institutional Strategies in the Global Society” at the Crown Legacy Hotel in Baguio City on 24-26 October 2024.
As it may be recalled, SLU has been a recipient of PIFUA awards in the previous years through its international students, namely: Debbie Manandhar in 2007, Abdulrazzaq O. Balain in 2017-2018, and Vladimir Zudinov in 2023.
The PIFUA Most Outstanding International Student Award is given to international students in the country who exemplify excellence in academic performance, leadership, community involvement and knowledge of the Philippines.
Aside from the PIFUA awards, SLU is also a finalist in several categories in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) ICONS 2024 Internationalization (IZN) Awards. Specifically, the university is listed as a finalist for the Global Citizenship awards; and University President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD is a finalist for the Internationalization Leadership Award.
These distinctions only affirm SLU’s commitment to uphold internationalization initiatives and partnerships such as the recognitions being attained by its international students.
Meanwhile, on the third day of the PIFUA conference, event participants toured around SLU for their visita escola. They walked around the SLU Museum of Igorot Cultures and Arts and immersed themselves in the Cordilleran culture. Afterwards, they visited the SLU Guest House and watched a performance by the SLU Center for Culture and the Arts (SLU-CCA) that showcased Cordillera’s rich cultural heritage at the Fr. Joseph Van den Daelen CCA Theater.
Read more about the three-day conference here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/dXATSogXFuHtggES/
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), SLU’s recognition as a proponent of internationalization by various agencies and organizations is a testament to the university’s commitment in fostering global understanding and maintaining a collaborative environment for international students.