Bringing together Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from across the MIMAROPA Region, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) MIMAROPA Regional Office, led by Director Edna Imelda F. Legazpi, successfully conducted PULO 2026: Partnerships for University Linkages and Opportunities, with the theme “Islands Connecting Higher Education Across ASEAN,” on September 2–3, 2026 in Palawan. The activity was made possible through the valuable partnership and support of Palawan State University (PalawanSU) and Western Philippines University (WPU). The activity also received the full support of the CHED International Affairs Service (IAS), led by Dr. Christine Nabor-Ferrer, in advancing internationalization and strengthening ASEAN engagement among MIMAROPA HEIs.

Serving as the culminating activity of the ASEAN Month celebration, PULO 2026 provided a platform for MIMAROPA HEIs to strengthen collaboration, exchange knowledge and practices, and explore concrete pathways toward internationalization and greater engagement with the ASEAN community.

The activity was anchored on the recognition that the islands of MIMAROPA, despite their geographical distance from one another, can serve as bridges for academic collaboration and regional engagement. Through PULO 2026, CHED MIMAROPA highlighted the potential of the region’s HEIs to connect local strengths and institutional initiatives with opportunities across ASEAN and beyond.

 

Strengthening Internationalization through Knowledge and Collaboration

The first day of PULO 2026 featured discussions on key areas that support the internationalization of higher education.

The session on “Internationalization-at-Home: Bringing Global Learning to Every Campus,” led by Dr. Gianinna Elaine M. Labicane, emphasized that internationalization can take place within the campus through virtual engagements, collaborative learning, international partnerships, and other initiatives that provide students with global and intercultural learning experiences without requiring physical mobility.

This was followed by “Quality Beyond Borders: Advancing Excellence through AUN-QA and ASEAN Quality Frameworks,” with Dr. John Donnie A. Ramos, underscored the role of quality assurance in advancing institutional excellence and supporting HEIs’ aspirations for regional and international recognition.

The third major learning session, “Beyond Borders: Research, Innovation, and Global Academic Visibility,” delivered by Dr. Leo Mendel D. Rosario of the University of the Philippines Open University, which highlighted opportunities for HEIs to strengthen research productivity, scholarly publication, innovation, international collaboration, and their visibility within the broader academic community.

Together, the three sessions emphasized that internationalization is not a stand-alone undertaking. Rather, it is interconnected with quality assurance, research and innovation, institutional collaboration, and the creation of meaningful global learning opportunities for students.

 

From Ideas to Institutional Action

 PULO 2026 also provided participating HEIs with an opportunity to translate the discussions into institutional priorities through the PULO Lab.

The writeshop encouraged institutions to identify priority internationalization initiatives, potential partners, and concrete actions aligned with their respective Strategic Internationalization Plans (SIPs). The activity placed emphasis on moving beyond discussion toward practical institutional commitments that can be pursued after the event.

Participants were likewise encouraged to look not only beyond the region for potential partners but also within MIMAROPA and the Philippines, recognizing the value of intra-regional and inter-institutional collaboration in building stronger higher education networks.

 

Connecting ASEAN with the Heritage of MIMAROPA

 A distinctive component of PULO 2026 was the PULO Experience at the Tabon Cave Complex, facilitated in coordination with the National Museum of the Philippines.

The cultural and educational experience was designed not simply as a site visit, but as an opportunity for participants to engage with the archaeological, historical, and cultural heritage of Palawan and to reflect on how local heritage can contribute to internationalization and ASEAN engagement.

Through the guided educational experience, participating HEIs were given an opportunity to appreciate the significance of the Tabon Cave Complex while considering the broader value of cultural heritage in promoting intercultural understanding and regional identity.

The experience reinforced an important dimension of Internationalization-at-Home: bringing the world to the local campus also means bringing the richness of one’s own culture, history, and identity to the world.

For MIMAROPA, this means showcasing the region not only as a destination for higher education, but also as a place of rich cultural heritage, diverse communities, unique environments, and knowledge that can be shared with ASEAN and international partners.

The Tabon Cave experience therefore served as a meaningful bridge between Palawan’s local heritage and the broader ASEAN community, demonstrating how cultural heritage can become part of the region’s internationalization narrative.

 

 

 

Building Partnerships Beyond Borders

 Throughout the two-day gathering, PULO 2026 emphasized that meaningful internationalization begins with partnerships—among institutions, educators, researchers, students, communities, and regional stakeholders.

The participation of MIMAROPA HEIs provided an opportunity for institutions to identify shared interests, exchange practices, and explore possible collaborations in internationalization, research, quality assurance, and other areas of mutual interest.

The event also highlighted the importance of strengthening the region’s collective identity. While MIMAROPA is composed of distinct island provinces and institutions, PULO 2026 demonstrated that these differences can become strengths when connected through collaboration.

 

MIMAROPA’s Commitment to ASEAN

 As the culminating activity of the ASEAN Month celebration, PULO 2026 reaffirmed CHED MIMAROPA’s commitment to advancing ASEAN awareness, internationalization, and regional cooperation in higher education.

More than a celebration, PULO 2026 served as a space for MIMAROPA HEIs to learn, connect, collaborate, and commit to action. It brought together institutional strengths and perspectives while opening conversations on how local initiatives can contribute to a more connected and internationally engaged higher education sector.

From the classrooms and campuses of MIMAROPA to research networks, quality assurance initiatives, international partnerships, and cultural heritage sites, the region continues to find ways to connect its local strengths with the wider ASEAN community.

Through PULO 2026, MIMAROPA’s islands became bridges—connecting people, institutions, ideas, cultures, and opportunities across ASEAN.