Keeping up with its internationalization initiatives, the University of Northern Philippines is one of the parties in the Philippine Canada Network for Sustainability Ilocos Region (PCNS Ilocandia), a consortium of Philippine and Canadian universities and colleges.

Dr. Erwin F. Cadorna, University President, signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the PCNS Ilocandia, together with the heads of 19 universities and colleges, at the Center for Flexible Learning, Mariano Marcos State University, January 24, 2024.

The Philippine HEIs are the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Mariano Marcos State University, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Pangasinan State University, Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Urdaneta City University, University of Eastern Pangasinan, Binalatongan Community College, Ilocos Sur Community College, Lyceum-Northwestern University, Saint Louis College, University of Luzon, Inc., Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation, Divine Word College of Laoag, Divine Word College of Vigan, Panpacific University, Inc., Universidad de Dagupan, Northwestern University, and Union Christian College.

The PCNS-Ilocandia envisions “to implement collaborative research, extension, and academic programs with funding support from various agencies and agree to produce HEIs with world class competencies through relevant discoveries and technologies for community empowerment.”

Meanwhile, the Canada institutions include the University of Saskatchewan, Dalhousie University, University of Prince Edward Island, Vancouver Island University, Mount Royal University, University of Victoria, University of Manitoba, University of British Columbia, and York University.

The network aims to conduct programs and activities along “collaborative research, extension, and development activities; curriculum and academic development; exchange of students for internship; capacity building among members of the consortium; faculty exchange, joint lectures, conferences, and symposia; dissemination and joint publication; resource generation; and other activities deemed appropriate by mutual consent.”

Aside from the signing of the MOU, the event also included a roundtable development planning and capacity building for sustainability, as well as a training on writing publishable papers.