Photos courtesy of Ar. Chris Jefferson Bauzon (SEA Faculty)
The Student Exchange and Cultural Immersion Program, which involved faculty and students from the University of Baguio’s School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA) and Universitas Amikom, took place from June 16 to 26, 2025. The 11-day student and faculty exchange program between the University of Baguio and Universitas Amikom is the second installment in the three-year agreement between the two prestigious universities.
The Exchange Program encompassed a multidisciplinary collaboration among the fields of architecture, environment and sanitary engineering, urban planning, information technology, geography, and international relations towards international linkages and connections.
This program is part of UB’s ongoing and continuous dedication to upholding academic excellence and pursuing the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, mainly:
- Goal No. 4 (Quality Education) – facilitating academic exchange between international partner universities allows students to extend their education beyond their home campus, making global education more accessible to the average student, and
- Goal No. 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) – maintaining collaborative partnerships with other higher education institutions strengthens UB’s international network, enabling collaborative work in developing educational programs, encouraging research and innovation, and supporting student mobility in pursuit of sustainable development.
Ar. Chris Jefferson Bauzon, represented the Architecture Program and Engr. Reymor Insas, the Environmental and Sanitary Engineering Program. Together with ten (10) UBaguio SEA students, and the faculty and selected students of Universitas Amikom, they participated in academic lectures, masterclasses, cultural excursions, and collaborative projects on sustainable tourism landscapes. The program was capped by a thought-provoking project aimed at raising awareness of and appreciation for cultural diplomacy and sustainable tourism within international collaboration and cooperation.
Experiencing international exchange and cultural immersion programs, as what the SEA faculty members and students of UBaguio, has given them a lifetime experience. For the faculty members, this was a benchmarking opportunity to improve the quality and sustainability of education in their respective programs. For the students, it afforded them a taste of learning beyond the four walls of the classroom.
