The speaker gives the salient points on attaining a successful internationalization program.

The University conducted a strategic planning for integration of programs and policies to enhance the 5-year plan for internationalization (IZN) on January 23-24, 2020.

Spearheaded by the National and International Affairs (NIA) Office, the two-day program enabled the different offices to collaborate and integrate their respective roles. The activity was guided by pools of Specialist from the Commission on Higher Education-International Affairs Staff (CHEd-IAS).

Atty. Lily Freida M. Milla, CHEd OIC Executive Director, discussed the leveling of IZN expectation, institutional internationalization process and design and the CHEd Memorandum Order No. 55 series of 2016. She gave particular emphasis on the internalization and to level up the curriculum as well as partnerships to create impact to international rankings of the universities.

With the support of the Commission, Atty. Milla also acknowledged the higher learning institutions’ contributions to the UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). “The universities contribute to all the 17; you are to facilitate localize and sustainable development goals so that they will not become ghost, they become reality in the locality, in the communities,” she said.

Atty. Milla also explained UNESCO key indicators for INZ, the INZ framework, the newly-developed IZN roadmap which includes creation a brand that will be put in the ASEAN region. The CHEd according to her, is supporting the different institutions in developing their brands and they develop a program called Fostering World-class Philippine Universities –Philippines HEIs program. Through the program, CHEd is giving support by providing SUCs with international benchmarking activities.

The presentation and appraisal of ISAT U Vision, Mission and Goals, Mandates and Institutional Programs in relations to INZ programs was conducted by Ms. Jennifer D. Montero, Project Technical Staff III, CHED-IAS. Meanwhile, Dr. Christine Ferrer, Director for External Linkages and international Affairs, Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), shared TAUs best practices in international programs, linkages and projects. Ms. Montero and Dr. Ferrer discussed the strategic planning process and accountability indicators of IZN and the SDGs. They also facilitated the workshop for enhancement of strategic INZ program of ISAT U which was participated by the Administrative Council members, external affairs coordinators, faculty and administrative personnel from different ISAT U Campuses.