 |
| (Image Source: De La Salle Lipa) |
De La Salle Lipa renewed one of its longest-standing international partnerships through the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with the International Training Network (ITN) on September 29, 2026 at the Diokno Boardroom. Facilitated by the institution’s External Linkages and Internationalization Office, the signing marked more than a decade of collaboration that has provided generations of Lasallian hospitality and tourism students with training opportunities at high-end hotel and resort properties in the United States.
The agreements were signed by Chancellor Dr. Teodosia Merlin Suarez and Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Internationalization Dr. Sheila Maloles on behalf of De La Salle Lipa, together with ITN Director of Operations for Asia Rolando Nagtalon Jr. and members of his team. In her welcome remarks, Dr. Maloles described the renewed agreement as an expression of De La Salle Lipa and ITN's shared vision to expand opportunities for learning, professional development, and global collaboration. She emphasized the importance of building connections across institutions and countries that help students develop both professional competence and a broader perspective. Nagtalon echoed this shared vision, drawing on his experience with the partnership since 2015. He recalled the program’s early challenges and its subsequent growth with support from the institution’s leadership, as well as the warm reception he has received during his visits to campus.
From Training To Career Experience
Dean Evangeline Necio of the College of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (CIHTM) traced the program’s development from its first cohort of 26 undergraduate students and 16 alumni in 2012. Participation has since grown, often reaching 30 or more students annually, with approximately 75 percent of applicants successfully passing their interviews and securing visas through the U.S. Embassy. A defining feature of the partnership is the nature of the placements. Students are placed in high-end hotels and resorts where they gain firsthand experience in hospitality operations and interact with international guests. The experience has also extended beyond the training period. Alumni have built careers in the hospitality industry including securing long-term positions and advancing to roles such as Food and Beverage Manager at hotel properties abroad. Over the years, DLSL faculty and administrators have likewise visited host properties and attended ITN host company conferences in the United States, allowing the institution to maintain connections with industry partners.
A Continuing Pathway Abroad
The renewed agreement provides a framework for De La Salle Lipa and ITN to expand their collaboration, explore additional program opportunities, and accommodate more students in international training placements. For current CIHTM students, the partnership provides a pathway to gain international industry experience, develop workplace skills, interact with diverse guests and professionals, and build connections that may inform their future careers. For prospective students, it highlights an opportunity to complement classroom preparation with structured international training and exposure to established hospitality properties abroad. After more than a decade, the partnership continues to connect DLSL students with professional experiences that extend their learning well beyond the campus.
(With words by Cristina Alfarita Larombi, De La Salle Lipa)
