Crossing borders without leaving the classroom, the University of Northern Philippines and Indonesia’s Universitas Bina Sarana Informatika (UBSI) launched their International Virtual Faculty and Student Exchange Program on September 24, 2026.
Convened virtually through Zoom, the inaugural ceremony brought together academic leaders, faculty members, and students from UNP’s College of Teacher Education and UBSI’s Program Studi Sastra Inggris. Under the newly established academic framework, students from both institutions will participate in co-taught Introduction to Linguistics courses, providing them with opportunities to learn from an international team of educators while engaging in cross-cultural academic exchange.
The ceremony commenced with messages from academic leaders who highlighted cross-border academic mobility as an essential component of contemporary higher education. In her welcome address, UBSI Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Diah Puspitasari emphasized the transformative role of digital connectivity in broadening students’ academic horizons and strengthening their intercultural competence. She noted that virtual international engagements can provide learners with meaningful opportunities to interact with peers and educators from different cultural and academic settings.
Echoing this vision, Dr. Sally Jarin, Director of the International Affairs and Linkages Office of UNP, emphasized the strategic importance of cross-cultural institutional partnerships in advancing academic collaboration and international engagement. She emphasized that sustained partnerships with higher education institutions abroad can help expose students and faculty to global perspectives, enrich academic practices, and contribute to position Philippine higher education within the broader international academic community.
Solidifying the commitment of both academic units, solidarity messages were delivered by Dr. Leilani Raquepo, Assistant Dean of the UNP College of Teacher Education, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agus Priadi, Head of the English Literature Department at UBSI.
The program formally introduced the lead educators who will steer the joint course offerings. Dr. Prapti Wigati Purwaningrum was presented as the lead lecturer for UBSI’s English Literature faculty, while Dr. Honorato Patubo, affiliate faculty of the College of Teacher Education and Head of the Department of Languages and Humanities, represented the teaching force of UNP’s College of Teacher Education.
Representing the pioneering batch of exchange students, Adrian Rabena of BSED English 1 and Jelita Dinda Rizagfa of Language and Literature 3, shared their perspectives on the program. Both student delegates expressed optimism about the borderless learning setup, noting that the collaborative study of linguistics in distinct cultural frameworks will deepen their academic engagement and broaden their international outlook.
