The Filipino Leaders in Advancing International Reputation (FLAIR) Masterclass in CAR: Upscaling Programs and Projects, Leveraging Internationalization and Futures Thinking (UPLIFT 2025) opened on 30 September 2025 at the Fr. Theophile Verbist Hall of Saint Louis University (SLU).
Organized by the Commission on Higher Education–Cordillera Administrative Region (CHED–CAR) in collaboration with SLU and the Cordillera Association of International Relations Officers (CAIRO), the two-day masterclass brings together representatives from 17 higher education institutions (HEIs) across the Cordillera to strengthen programs and projects on internationalization and future thinking.
The program opened with welcome remarks delivered Executive Assistant to the SLU President, Joselito C. Gutierrez, PhD on behalf of Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, President of SLU. This was followed by the rationale of FLAIR–UPLIFT 2025 presented by Mr. Godfrey G. Mendoza, PhD, Education Supervisor II of CHED–CAR.
In his keynote address, Dir. Jimmy G. Catanes, PhD, Director IV of CHED–CAR, spoke about “Future-Proofing Cordillera HEIs.” He urged the region’s universities to aim beyond the world’s top 100 rankings and went in-depth on CHED’s A.C.H.I.E.V.E. 2030 framework as a roadmap of HEIs for the next five years. A.C.H.I.E.V.E. stands for:
- Advanced and Accessible Lifelong Learning
- Centralized One Nation Human Capital Development Plan
- Harmonized SDG-based Higher Education Research and Innovation Agenda
- Integrated Real-Time Data Collection and Analytics System
- Expanded and Impact-Driven Internationalization Strategies
- Vitalized Policies, Internal Systems, and Governance
- Effective and Efficient Public Service
Through this agenda, CHED focuses on combining flexible learning programs, aligning research with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, building a single data system to follow learners from elementary school to employment, and boosting global competitiveness through student exchanges and international partnerships.
Director of the International Relations Office of Benguet State University (BSU) Rex John G. Bawang, PhD, then shared insights on crafting a Strategic Internationalization Plan (SIP), citing BSU’s own Strategic Internationalization Plan 2021–2025 as a model for aligning institutional initiatives with Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
President of Ifugao State University, Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon, PhD followed with a talk on data and storytelling in the context of impact rankings and visibility tools. She emphasized that rankings should not be viewed merely as competition, but as a compass for accountability, improvement, and visibility, as they help universities attract partners, resources, and talent while contributing to nation-building.
“Rankings are a powerful tool for visibility and credibility, opportunities for partnerships and collaboration, student and faculty mobility, resource mobilization, benchmarking and quality improvement, contribution to sustainable development goals, talent attraction and retention, and nation-building and regional equity,” she said, stressing the need to use outcome-based metrics while remaining transparent, credible, and reliable.
In the afternoon session, Ms. Jesusa Rocel S. Estanislao, Senior Education Program Specialist (SEPS) of CHED–International Affairs Service (IAS), joined the online masterclass to discuss building and sustaining cross-border partnerships. She highlighted home-based internationalization and cross-border mobility, and shared the Philippine Internationalization Roadmap to guide HEIs in forging lasting collaborations.
The day concluded with an online presentation by Mildred M. Libot, PhD Chief of CHED–Office of Institutional Quality Assurance and Governance (OIQAG), who emphasized the need for clear mechanisms to assure program and institutional quality. She urged HEIs to reflect: “Are your programs of quality, and are the learning outcomes achieved? If yes, how do you know?”
Before ending her session, Dr. Libot outlined the four pillars of global institutional excellence: digital innovation, strategic partnerships, institutional branding, and financial sustainability. She also highlighted the UPLIFT Promise: growth without limits, underscoring students’ global opportunities, faculty contributions, and the Philippines’ leadership in educational transformation.
Day 1 of UPLIFT 2025 closed with a strong call for collaboration among Cordillera HEIs to enhance their global presence and strengthen internationalization initiatives; this reinforced Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17) as a key driver of higher education in the region. (Article by Shyra Hannah V. Razon, OGRAASP Intern | Photos by Rennalyn Charmie T. Tajon, UIO Intern)
