January 14, 2026 – In the spirit of fostering international collaboration and academic development, The University of Baguio once again opened its doors to welcome delegates from the College of Asian Scholars (CAS) in Khon Kaen, Thailand, for the opening orientation of their 5-month cultural exchange program.
For over four decades, UB and CAS have cultivated a long-standing relationship that has facilitated continuous academic development through international collaboration and learning opportunities for both students and faculty members alike. This cross-cultural experience, a program supported under the Empowering Voyage of Learning Vision and Exchange (EVOLVE) program and implemented through the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA), was specifically designed through the careful planning of both institutions.
Extending hospitality the UB way
The welcome program was held at the Centennial Hall and led by the Linkages Office – International Affairs staff. Following the usual opening rituals of the invocation and national anthems of the Philippines and Thailand, the university’s very own cultural dance group, UBBUK, gave a rousing welcoming presentation to give the delegates a preliminary glimpse of what they can expect from Cordilleran culture moving forward.
The university Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), Dr. Janice Kaylyn Lonogan, then gave a warm opening address, expressing her confidence that the program will be enriching, fulfilling, and an overall excellent experience for all parties involved.
Following that, Dr. John Balanquit (Dean, School of Business Administration and Accountancy or SBAA) and Dr. Antonio Mangaliag (Dean, STELA) presented an overview of the program objectives, curriculum, and schedule that the delegates will be following throughout their stay.
Afterwards, two students from the previous batch of CAS outbound exchange students – Ms. Laureen Tauli and Mr. Darthon Ventura – gave their testimonials about the program. They expressed their gratitude for being afforded the opportunity and expounded on the lessons they had learned both in and outside of the university during their stay, citing that the practical and cultural takeaways held as much weight as the academic and professional training they received.
Rounding out the program was Ms. Melanie Rulla-Saro (Director, Linkages Office) and her delivery of the closing remarks. She reiterated the importance of enacting internationalization programs such as this one and conveyed her sincere appreciation that CAS continues to to support UB’s international collaboration efforts with them on initiatives such as this one.
Leading the charge in international collaboration for a sustainable future
Programs such as these are, first and foremost, excellent academic opportunities for students that can greatly benefit their future careers through practical training, cultural learning, and social networking. However, these programs also serve a key part in the development of academia as a whole.
Collaboration between different educational institutions, whether locally or internationally, ensures that a base standard of operation is observed across the board. It establishes industry standards and promotes the exchange of best practices between universities, thus facilitating the development of quality education (SDG No. 4: Quality Education) that can build future professionals who can address the needs of the community once they graduate (SDG No. 8: Decent Work andEconomic Growth). Collaborative education also promotes partnerships that build community-centered programs that can reliably evolve and adapt over time in order to be more responsive to global needs and issues (SDG No. 17: Partnerships for the Goals).
As UB maintains and strengthens its partnership with CAS and other higher education institutions around the world, it will continue to promote international learning and cross-cultural exchange within academic spaces for the betterment of the future of education.
Once again, UB extends a warm welcome to the delegates of the College of Asian Scholars! As you begin your journey in the Philippines, the UBian community is happy to serve as your second home. May your time here be fruitful, fulfilling, and enriching!
