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| (Image Source: Facebook/Batangas State University - The National Engineering University) |
Project HIRAYA: Honing An Inclusive And Socially Responsive Internationalization Program, a trilateral short-term exchange initiative under the Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) Programme, advances regional academic cooperation, cross-cultural collaboration, and community-rooted innovation. The program is spearheaded by the University of the Philippines (UP) in partnership with Batangas State University, The National Engineering University (BatStateU The NEU), and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) in coordination with the UP Office of International Linkages. Spanning three legs across the Philippines on June 9-27, 2025, the program commenced at UP Diliman which hosted the first leg last June 9-18 and focused on United Nations Sustainability Development Goal (UNSDG) 17: Partnerships For The Goals — emphasizing best practices in international collaboration and institutional innovation.
Last June 18-21, BatStateU The NEU hosted the second leg of the exchange, welcoming 72 participants — 22 students from UP, 10 from BatStateU, and 40 international students from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore hailing from leading universities including the Islamic Science University of Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University, National University of Singapore, Universitas Indonesia, and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. The BatStateU leg officially opened last June 18 with welcoming remarks from Vice President for Development and External Affairs Dr. Vaberlie P. Mandane-Garcia who underscored the importance of socially responsive internationalization. Guillian M. Mecate, Head of Program Development and Strategy of the UP Office of International Linkages, provided an overview of the program and introduced the delegates from UP and AIMS. Director of External Affairs Dr. Teodorica G. Ani introduced the BatStateU participants. The opening featured a cross-cultural performance by the Office of Culture and Arts and a campus tour of BatStateU’s innovation and sustainability facilities.
On June 19, delegates engaged in coursework on Design Thinking and Social Innovation, creating human-centered solutions to real-world challenges. Community representatives from Sitio Bajaoan, Malitam and Gawad Kalinga, San Pedro shared pressing local issues — referred to as “pain points” — which served as inputs for the student teams, enhancing the grassroots relevance of their proposals. June 20 focused on refining proposed solutions with input from faculty mentors and peers, culminating in interdisciplinary outputs that demonstrated creativity, sustainability, and cultural empathy. The program concluded on June 21 with a final presentation of solutions and a closing program celebrating the accomplishments and collaborative spirit of the exchange. In the afternoon, participants joined a cultural tour hosted by the Batangas Provincial Government featuring the Verde Island Passage Immersive Experience and a visit to the Museo ng Batangas. The delegation then proceeded to CBSUA for the final leg last June 22-25, continuing the shared journey of regional learning and international cooperation.
Project HIRAYA exemplifies a pioneering model for short-term academic mobility in Southeast Asia. Through the UNICATION Network which includes UP and BatStateU, Philippine universities are building cross-border academic bridges while remaining rooted in the needs of local communities.
