Held from September 30 to October 1, 2025, the Commission on Higher Education, Cordillera Administrative Region (CHED-CAR), in partnership with the Cordillera Association of International Relations Officers (CAIRO), and Saint Louis University as the host institution, successfully conducted the Filipino Leaders in Advancing International Reputation (FLAIR) Masterclass session. Powered by the theme “Upscaling Programs and Projects, Leveraging Internationalization and Futures Thinking (UPLIFT 2025).”
The two-day event brought the University of Baguio leaders and innovators together with various faculty members and administrators from over twenty (20) different Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the region (totaling one hundred and twenty (120) participants) to discuss rankings, quality assurance, partnerships, and sustainable internationalization.
With Dr. Jimmy G. Catanes delivering a compelling message, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Cordillera are tasked to “future-proof” themselves by anticipating global shifts, further strengthening academic and research capacities, while ensuring institutional relevance and resilience in the years ahead. Dr. Catanes emphasized the importance of developing comprehensive action plans that directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for HEIs to heighten inclusion and aspire to standards within the world’s top 100 rankings in the coming academic evaluation and submissions to the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) and Times Higher Education (THE) rankings.
He underscored that these goals are best pursued within the framework of the CHED ACHIEVE 2030 Roadmap, which outlines strategic directions for the next five years:
Advance and Accessible Lifelong Learning; a Centralized One Nation Human Capital Development Plan; a Harmonized, SDG-based Higher Research and Innovation Agenda; Integrated Real-Time Data Collection and Analytics; Expanded and Impact-Driven Internationalization Strategies; Vitalized Policies, Internal Systems, and Governance; and Effective and Efficient Public Service.
DAY 1: Building the foundation: Rankings and strategies for sustainability
Day 1 filled the halls of the Fr. Theophile Verbist Hall, Saint Louis University, with institutional leaders and innovators who build and contribute to the foundation of quality rankings and sustainability within global ranking industry standards. Opening with the topic “Crafting of Strategic Internationalization Plan (SIP)”, Dr. Rex John G. Bawang, Director of BSU-IRO, outlined the systematic strategies for incorporating international perspectives in every institutional policy.
Dr. Eva Codamon-Dugyon, President, IFSU, then emphasized the importance of data and storytelling, reminding higher education institutions that impact must be made as well as properly communicated to be viewed in the standard of global rankings.
Expanding to a broader perspective, Ms. Jesusa Rocel Estanislao, Supervising Education Program Specialist (SEPS), CHED-IAS, emphasized the importance of cross-border partnerships, which are essential for mobility, joint research, and international reputation. Dr. Mildred M. Libot, Chief, CHED-OIQAG, concluded the day by connecting global quality standards to local applications, demonstrating how Philippine HEIs can meet global benchmarks while serving their communities.
DAY 2: Strategic positioning and institutional showcases
Alt Text: Photos and snapshots of HEI participants from the FLAIR 2025 Masterclass
Day 2 highlighted how higher education institutions craft their path toward global recognition. Major John Eric A. Tadeo, PMA Professor and Fulbright Fellow, opened with a lecture on leadership and policy, stressing the role of strong governance and visionary direction in sustaining internationalization. This was followed by Dr. Donna R. Tabangin, CPSDO, LGU-Baguio, who presented on “Establishing the SDG Corner: Making Impact Visible,” showing how institutions can align their initiatives with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to amplify both global relevance and impact.
“Pitch Your Entry: We Got Ranked!” was one of the most eagerly awaited workshops, where participating HEIs proudly discussed how they tackled acknowledgments in WURI, QS, and THE rankings. For other institutions hoping to join the global ranking environment, these testimonies offered useful narratives that covered tactics, difficulties, and success stories.
The highlight of the day was the Gawad Parangal sa Pandaigdigang Kahusayan, where CHED-CAR formally recognized respective HEIs in the region that achieved ranking milestones. This recognition affirmed the region’s collective progress in aligning with global education standards and highlighted the importance of visibility and impact in international reputation management and building.
Advancing the SDGs Through UPLIFT ranking and strategies
FLAIR 2025 directly contributes to the global education agenda by embedding the United Nations SDGs into the strategies of Cordillera HEIs:
- SDG 4: Quality Education – through improving internationalization, curriculum development, and student learning outcomes
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – by ensuring graduates are equipped with globally competitive skills for the international labor market
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – by strengthening cross-border collaborations and creating multi-institutional linkages
By aligning HEI initiatives with the SDGs, the event demonstrated how local institutions can contribute to global development while advancing their own competitiveness.
The FLAIR-UPLIFT Masterclass aims to recognize institutional development and excellence, empowering faculty members and administrators of each university to enhance and champion educational advancements that contribute to the standard of growth in a global perspective. In essence, FLAIR 2025: UPLIFT served as both a celebration of achievements and a call to action, showcasing how the Cordillera region is steadily transforming into a hub of globally recognized and future-ready institutions, united in their mission to raise the profile of Philippine Higher Education and the community involved.
