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Mapúa MCL Opens ASEAN Month 2025 with Masterclass on Internationalization

Mapúa MCL Opens ASEAN Month 2025 with Masterclass on Internationalization.

On August 7, 2025, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) officially launched the ASEAN Month Celebration 2025 with the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”. The event, led by the Office for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement (OSPGE), was attended by key officers and employees of Mapúa MCL, highlighting the institution’s commitment to building a global-ready academic community that embraces collaboration, diversity, and sustainable growth.

Engr. Maribel Songsong, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), delivered the opening remarks to set the tone of the celebration. In her message, Engr. Songsong emphasized that the ASEAN Month celebration serves as a platform to recognize academic and cultural exchange initiatives that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in advancing inclusive education, international collaboration, and sustainable growth.

Recognizing IZN Achievements

As part of the opening ceremony, Mapúa MCL recognized students and faculty members who have significantly contributed to the school’s Internationalization (IZN) initiatives:

  • Students who participated in the Immersion Program at Universiti Brunei Darussalam last June 2025 were honored for representing Mapúa MCL in a meaningful cross-cultural learning exchange, an experience that broadened their global perspectives while strengthening the institution’s commitment to fostering intercultural understanding and collaboration within the ASEAN community.
    • Alessandra Marie Escueta, 4th year, BA Communication
    • Carylle Andrei Regio, 2nd year, BS Biology
    • Allaina Marcielle Acosta, 2nd year, BS Biology
    • John Vincent Alipala, 2nd year, BS Biology
  • Dr. Hermie Articona, from the ETY College of Business, was awarded for his role as Mapúa MCL’s representative to Sunway University in Malaysia last July 2025, an engagement that enriched the institution’s international linkages and academic discourse while paving the way for deeper and more meaningful collaborations with regional partners.
  • Ms. Sam Latorre and Ms. Zyra Napolis, from the College of Health Sciences, were acknowledged as collaborating faculty who supported the inbound mobility of Universitas Esa Unggul faculty last July 2025, an engagement that enriched academic discussions on cognitive distortions and their impact on personality disorders while underscoring the value of global academic collaboration in advancing inclusive and sustainable education.

Masterclass on Internationalization

One of the highlights of the opening program was the Masterclass on Internationalization led by Prof. James Ronald O. Mesina, Vice President for External Relations and Global Linkages of MapúaMCL. The session provided an in-depth discussion of the role of internationalization in higher education, drawing from CHED’s CMO 55, Series of 2016, as a guiding framework.

He emphasized three key dimensions of Mapúa MCL’s internationalization thrust:

  • Developing graduates equipped to thrive in multicultural settings. By engaging with diverse cultures and perspectives, students gain adaptability, intercultural understanding, and global competencies that prepare them to succeed in today’s interconnected world.
  • Strengthening cross-border mobility through student exchanges, faculty collaborations, and joint academic programs. These initiatives create opportunities for cultural immersion, research collaboration, and innovative academic experiences that transcend geographical boundaries, fostering cooperation and understanding within ASEAN and beyond.
  • Embedding inclusivity and sustainability into the academic experience, research, and community engagement. By integrating these values into curricula and institutional practices, Mapúa MCL ensures that internationalization is holistic, socially relevant, and environmentally conscious.

Prof. Mesina concluded by stressing that internationalization is not just about mobility but about cultivating a mindset of inclusivity, sustainability, and collaboration, equipping both students and faculty to be active contributors to a stronger ASEAN community and a more globally connected future.

ASEAN Month and Beyond

With lectures, panel discussions, masterclasses, and collaborative activities scheduled throughout the month, the ASEAN Month Celebration 2025 reaffirms Mapúa MCL’s mission of nurturing globally competent professionals who embody both academic excellence and social responsibility.

This year’s celebration highlights not only the institution’s strong commitment to the ASEAN vision but also its dedication to advancing the principles of inclusivity and sustainability in education, research, and community engagement.