Advancing its commitment to global engagement and academic enrichment, the University of Northern Philippines, through the International Affairs and External Linkages Office (IAELO) successfully mounted the Nasaririt Webinar Series: Summer Edition on April 29, 2026 bringing together participants in a dynamic virtual exchange via Zoom.
The event, themed “The Architecture of Collaborative Leadership: Embedding Sustainability into the Academic Operating System,” served as a significant platform for strengthening regional cooperation and intellectual exchange across Southeast Asia.
This international gathering was characterized by broad regional participation, bringing together a diverse cohort of faculty and staff from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The academic program was enriched by a distinguished roster of international experts from partner institutions, including Chiang Rai Rajabhat University in Thailand, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta in Indonesia, and Politeknik Premier Port Dickson in Malaysia.
Specifically, Dr. Natthaphon Santhi offered insights into ethical global networks, while Prof. Ihwan Susila, PhD, addressed the pedagogy of resilience through intercultural alignment. Technical and vocational perspectives were provided by Ts Dr. Hj Engku Shahrulerizal Bin Hj Engku Ab Rahman, and Dr. Rolando Navarro of UNP concluded the presentations by highlighting the vital integration of local heritage into sustainable academic curricula.
A definitive highlight of the event was the series of fruitful Q&A sessions which facilitated a deep exploration of strategies to better integrate internationalization and collaboration into the curriculum. Participants and speakers engaged in meaningful dialogue regarding how to harmonize global standards with the conservation of local heritage and culture. These discussions illustrated how such an integration can be highly impactful for the university, fostering a campus environment where students are globally competitive yet remain deeply rooted in their cultural identities. By exploring how these elements can be embedded into the “academic operating system,” the sessions provided a roadmap for long-term institutional sustainability.
The NASARIRIT Webinar Series, which stands for the Network for Academic Synergy, Advocacy, Research, Internationalization, and Regional Intercultural Trends is a new program of the University’s International Affairs and External Linkages Office to empower educators to embed sustainable internationalization and collaborative leadership into the university’s core academic framework.
