Reaffirming its pursuit of global competitiveness and institutional excellence, the University of Northern Philippines joined higher education institutions in the country in KAPIT-BISIG 2026: United from Within to Beyond, a two-day national capacity-development program focused on strengthening cross-border collaborations and international partnerships held on July 13–14, 2026 at the SMX Convention Center Clark.
The event convened delegates from 119 higher education institutions in the country, promoting a dynamic community of practice dedicated to advance internationalization and strengthen collaborative engagement among Philippine universities. Through knowledge exchange, networking, and capacity-building sessions, participants explored strategies for expanding global partnerships and enhancing institutional readiness for international engagement.
Representing UNP were Dr. Winnie Caliboso, Coordinator for Student and Personnel Mobility, and Ar. Julius Artates, International Focal Person of the College of Architecture, who actively participated in the discussions and learning activities aimed to reinforce the University’s internationalization agenda and broaden its global academic linkages.
Spearheaded by the University of the Philippines Office of International Linkages (UP OIL) through the UNICATION and ANTENA Erasmus+ Capacity Building Projects, the replication training equipped participating higher education institutions with advanced strategies in building sustainable international partnerships and strengthening institutional internationalization policies. Recognizing the multifaceted nature of global engagement, the program featured two parallel, specialized learning tracks tailored to different operational dimensions of university internationalization, both of which were successfully completed by the University of Northern Philippines delegates during the convention.
To strengthen the university’s internationalization framework at both the operational and strategic levels, the UNP delegates participated in specialized parallel training tracks. Ar. Artates completed Track A: Foundational Training Program, where he enhanced competencies in the standardized functional mapping of international relations offices, intercultural communication, and the establishment of baseline protocols for effective partnership management.
Meanwhile, Dr. Caliboso undertook Track B: Capacity-Building Training Workshop, an advanced program that focused on institutional policy alignment, strategic international project development, and the integration of higher education institutions into regional ASEAN collaboration networks—equipping the University with strengthened capacities to forge impactful and sustainable global partnerships.
The dual-track participation by the UNP delegates ensures that the university is equipped with both the fundamental protocols and high-level strategies needed to expand its global academic network and optimize its student and faculty mobility programs.
