Saint Louis University (SLU) Director of the Office of Global Relations and Alumni Affairs (OGRAA), Stephenie O. Busbus, PhD, was elected as the new Secretary of the University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) Council of the Philippines during the 2025 General Assembly and Election of New Board of Officers of the UMAP Council of the Philippines on 26 February 2025 . The event was held at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Auditorium, Higher Education Development Center (HEDC) Building, CP Garcia Ave., UP Diliman, Quezon City.
Dr. Busbus succeeds Dr. Mary Grace Carrido, former director of OGRAA, who completed her three-year term from 2021 to 2024.
UMAP is recognized by CHED as a “key player in promoting mobility programs among Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Asia Pacific.” UMAP facilitates exchanges, joint programs, and research collaborations among its member HEIs and other participating institutions. It fosters a strong sense of belonging across diverse cultures through cross-cultural exchange.
The general assembly brought together representatives from various UMAP partner universities across the country, serving as a platform for sharing academic innovations, creative program initiatives, and enriching curricular offerings through student mobility. Participants also exchanged insights and experiences to further enhance the quality of higher education in the Philippines.
The election of Dr. Busbus to the UMAP Council of the Philippines highlights SLU’s unwavering commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By actively participating in initiatives that promote international academic collaboration and student mobility, SLU continues to advance inclusive and equitable education while fostering global partnerships that drive sustainable development. (Article by Kathreena Cabañero, OGRAA Intern)
