- January 12, 2026
Mapúa MCL Strengthens Global Academic Partnerships at QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2025
Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) joined global university leaders and higher education stakeholders at the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2025, held from November 4 to 6, 2025, at Korea University in Seoul, South Korea.
Carrying the theme “Advancing Generational Potential: Skills and Partnership in the Asia Pacific,” the summit convened institutions and organizations across the region to explore collaborative approaches in skills development, research, sustainability, and strategic partnerships aimed at empowering future generations.
Representing Mapúa MCL were Engr. Maribel G. Songsong, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA); Prof. James Ronald O. Mesina, Vice President for External Linkages, Internationalization, and Transnational Education (ELITE); and Ms. Ivana Ruth C. Vidal, Program Associate for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement (OSPGE).
Mapúa MCL’s participation in the summit aimed to strengthen existing global partnerships and establish new ones, while learning from best practices in innovation, sustainability, and research. Throughout the three-day event, the institution engaged with over 1,200 delegates from more than 300 universities and organizations, positioning Mapúa MCL as
an active contributor to transformative higher education initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region.
On November 5, 2025, during Day 2 of the summit, Mapúa MCL formalized new international collaborations through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with SEGi University (Malaysia) and Galala University (Egypt). The cooperation agreements focus on research collaboration, faculty and student mobility programs, and joint initiatives that support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SEGi University was represented by Ms. Stella Lau Kah Wai, Managing Director, while Galala University was represented by Prof. Dr. Mohamed El-Shinawi, President, and Mr. Mohab Saleh, General Director for Business Development. Prof. James Ronald O. Mesina represented Mapúa MCL during the signing ceremonies.
As part of the QS Summit’s Spotlight Sessions on Sustainability, Prof. Mesina and Ms. Vidal represented Mapúa MCL as speakers and delivered a presentation titled “From Classroom to Green Workforce: Embedding Sustainable Building Standards into Higher Education for Green Talent Development.” The presentation highlighted the integration of sustainability principles within Mapúa MCL’s outcomes-based curriculum, underscoring the institution’s commitment to academic innovation and sustainability-driven education.
Beyond the formal sessions, Mapúa MCL continued to cultivate stronger global relationships through collaborative meetings with key partners within the Cintana Alliance, including Galala University (Egypt), Chitkara University (India), and Sunway University (Malaysia). The delegation also engaged with other partner institutions such as BINUS University (Indonesia), Management and Science University (Malaysia), and INTI International University (Malaysia) to explore opportunities for research collaboration, academic mobility, and joint initiatives.
As part of its broader Internationalization (IZN) engagements in Seoul, Mapúa MCL also formalized a partnership with the American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB), one of the country’s top and QS globally ranked higher education institutions. The MOU was signed by Dr. Carmen Z. Lagmana, Member of the Board of Trustees and Former Vice Chancellor, and Prof. Dr. Manzur H. Khan, Proctor, representing AIUB, while Prof. Mesina signed on behalf of Mapúa MCL.
The delegation further participated in a campus tour of Korea University, which highlighted the host institution’s rich history and milestones over its 120 years of academic excellence.
Culminating its engagements in Seoul, Mapúa MCL paid a courtesy visit to the Philippine Embassy in the Republic of Korea and met with Her Excellency Bernadette Therese Fernandez, Ambassador-designate. Discussions focused on strengthening collaborative engagement between Philippine and Korean universities, as well as potential initiatives to promote the Philippines as a tourism destination among Koreans and opportunities for student and faculty mobility in Korea.
Mapúa MCL’s active participation in the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2025 underscores its steadfast commitment to advancing meaningful global partnerships, promoting sustainability, and contributing to the exchange of best practices in higher education. These initiatives align with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, reinforcing the institution’s role in global academic collaboration and sustainable development.
