Misamis University Builds International Policy Advancing the 17 UN SDGs

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Misamis University Builds International Policy Adv ....

Dr. Lloyd Ranises - Director Linkage & Networking

November 28, 2025 9:50 A.M.

Dr. Lloyd Ranises - Director Linkage & Networking

November 28, 2025 9:50 A.M.

Misamis University Builds International Policy Advancing the 17 UN SDGs

Misamis University (MU) has developed international best practices that advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through the newly established Office of Linkages and International Affairs, the University institutionalized a Policy on International Initiatives in Tackling the SDGs, as provided in its Policy and Procedures Manual approved on September 30, 2025.

The Manual of the Office of Linkages and International Affairs provides Section 2: The Vision, Mission, Goals, and Objectives of the Office.

VISION
The Office of Linkages and International Affairs at Misamis University envisions attaining international recognition and becoming renowned for producing globally competitive graduates.

MISSION
It shall foster global partnerships with local, regional, and international higher education institutions (HEIs), government institutions, NGOs, and industry for curriculum advancements that meet societal and environmental needs across all cultural groups.

GOAL
The Office shall ensure that educational programs meet Philippine and international standards to produce graduates who are responsive to Philippine and global labor demands.

OBJECTIVES
To align with the Vision, Mission, Goal, and Objectives of the Office of Linkages and International Affairs with Misamis University, it aims to:

Establish and strengthen local and international linkages and partnerships that enhance the delivery of education and the institution's social responsibility.
Align local and international activities with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Conduct various modes of mobility (home-based/cross-border) for faculty, students, and staff exchanges, studies, fellowships, internships, and on-the-job training;
Incorporate engagements and experiences with partner HEIs, government institutions, NGOs, NGAs, industries locally and internationally for curriculum enhancement.
Organize training, seminars, workshops, and conferences in collaboration with local and international partners;
Engage local and international dialogues, project reviews, consultations, research, publications, and patenting addressing issues;
Develop harmony across cultural norms and traditions on the global stage,
Conduct an annual comprehensive assessment of the needs and opportunities for local and international linkages, activities, and collaboration.

It is clear that achieving the SDGs is a core objective of the Office (Objective No. 2), supporting the realization of its Vision, Mission, and Goal. While the SDGs are explicitly stated in Objective No. 2, the other objectives (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) are complementary and contribute collectively to achieving the 17 SDGs, as each area of engagement addresses social, economic, and environmental dimensions of development. Aligning academic initiatives with the SDGs ensures that MU graduates acquire the skills and competencies necessary to address global challenges.

Henceforth, Misamis University envisions producing graduates who possess competencies responsive to social, economic, and environmental issues. These graduates will be globally competitive, and capable of contributing to balanced and sustainable development. Therefore, the policies contained in the Manual ultimately promote sustainable goals for humanity, within students’ communities, the country, and the world.

To monitor the effectiveness of its initiatives, the Manual provides assessment tools to measure the performance of various activities undertaken by the Office.

Article 19, Section 1: Types of Questionnaires for Local Activities

Benchmarking Questionnaire for the Faculty
On-site Conference/Forum Questionnaire for the Students
On-site Conference/Forum Questionnaire for the Faculty
Students Internship Questionnaire
Collaboration for Joint Research and Publication Questionnaire (Faculty)

Article 19, Section 2: Types of Questionnaires for International Activities

Online Lecture/Forum Questionnaire (Students & Faculty)
Cross-Border Activity Questionnaire for the Students
International Internship Questionnaire (Students)
Cross-Border Activity Questionnaire for the Faculty
Cross-Border Research Collaboration Questionnaire (Faculty)
International Project Collaborations Questionnaire (Faculty)
Exchange Program Questionnaire (For International Students and Faculty)
Misamis University Linkages Mapping Survey for Faculty and Staff This survey tracks each college's participation in home-based and cross-border international activities, as well as its achievements.

These survey instruments are administered at the end of each local and international activity to evaluate their effectiveness and outcomes.

To operationalize the policy, Misamis University (MU) gradually began establishing international connections even before the policy was formally defined. These initiatives became well- structured and aligned as the Policy and Procedures Manual of the Office of Linkages and International Affairs explicitly articulated the University’s internationalization framework. As a result, MU has strengthened its international partnerships and expanded its global engagements.

MU initially prioritized Southeast Asia as a strategic region for collaboration due to its practicality and feasibility. From 2023 to 2024, the University established partnerships with Kasetsart University (Thailand), INTI International University (Malaysia), and Universitas Persada Indonesia YAI (Indonesia). In June 2025, six additional Indonesian higher education institutions joined MU as new partners.

These partnerships contribute to MU’s efforts to advance all 17 SDGs, beginning with SDG 4: Quality Education, the foundation of MU’s internationalization initiatives. Joint activities include online mirror classes on Sustainable Engineering, Sustainable Tourism, and ASEAN Psychology Practice, exposing students to global perspectives and promoting intercultural learning. These engagements advance the internationalization of teaching and pave the way for the future internationalization of the curriculum, including opportunities for double-degree programs.

Having established strong relationships through consistent online engagements, MU then moved a step further to expand its global reach. To strengthen its internationalization efforts, MU launched faculty and student mobility programs beginning in 2024. The University sent 11 faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences, and College of Education to Kasetsart University, Thailand, for benchmarking activities, international lectures, facility immersion, and academic engagements with professors from the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science.

In the same year, MU sent two faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business Management to participate in a summer course at Kasetsart University. In 2025, MU sent two outbound students from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business Management to join the International Summer School on Sustainable Tourism in Bangkok.

MU has also welcomed inbound faculty visitors, such as Dr. Korakit Choomgrant of Kasetsart University, whose visit expanded opportunities for deeper academic collaboration.

Furthermore, through its partnerships, MU gained greater access to international conferences and actively participated in events focusing on sustainable innovation, social sciences for sustainable development, and machine intelligence. These collaborations provided discounted and even free registration opportunities, allowing broader participation from MU faculty and students.

At the home campus, to strengthen understanding of internationalization within the University community, MU implemented dedicated capacity-building programs on internationalization. These included collaborations with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region 10, seminars on world university ranking requirements, and a dialogue with Dr. Monicah Frölich of the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) to better understand global industry needs. The University also organized an Internationalization Forum in partnership with the Austrian Embassy and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP).

Additionally, MU highlighted internationalization during the celebration of the 57th ASEAN Day on August 8, 2024, with a focus on exchange programs and transnational education. Looking beyond the ASEAN region, MU also participated in the European Higher Education Fair 2024 and the US-Philippine Higher Education Luncheon Meeting to explore student and faculty exchange opportunities with European and US institutions.

Overall, MU continues to implement comprehensive strategies that contribute to active internationalization, progressing toward the full internationalization of teaching and, eventually, of the curriculum. Activities such as mirror classes promote the SDGs in tourism, sustainable engineering, and innovation, illustrating that MU’s approach to internationalization is closely aligned with the global sustainability agenda.

All of these activities and engagements with MU’s international partners are assessed through the survey tools provided in the Manual of the Office of Linkages and International Affairs. These assessments help identify the strengths and weaknesses of programs and initiatives, enabling continuous improvement. Such evaluations ensure the effective internationalization of teaching, integrating global sustainability content across social, economic, and environmental concerns, while also addressing industry needs worldwide.

Finally, MU has ensured that its international initiatives are globally visible. In January 2025, the University applied for the World University Ranking for Innovation (WURI) 2025, where Misamis University ranked 88th worldwide in the Student Mobility and Openness category and 70th in the Visionary Leadership category. This achievement demonstrates that the University’s innovative strategies significantly benefit its students, the community, the country, and global society.