Measuring progress on the Sustainable Development Goals takes evidence, and evidence travels better when universities work across borders. In 2025, the University of the Cordilleras (UC) joined international research communities to gather and share SDG-relevant data, while building the partnerships, exchanges and scholarship pipelines that keep that collaboration going.
Gathering and Sharing SDG-Relevant Evidence with International Research Communities
August 5, 2025. Faculty and student researchers from the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) presented at the International Conference on Economics, Business, Tourism, and Social Sciences (ICEBTSS 2025) in Bangkok, Thailand. Studies covered the experiences and challenges of multidisciplinary teams in the rehabilitation of children in conflict with the law, social media usage patterns and cyberbullying awareness among senior high school students, and mobility solutions for persons with visual and orthopedic disabilities in Baguio City. The findings generate local data on justice, digital rights and inclusive urban development (SDG 10, SDG 11, SDG 16).
October 24–26, 2025. Twelve College of Information Technology and Computer Science (CITCS) students and their adviser presented systematic literature reviews at the 7th World Symposium on Software Engineering at Okayama University, Japan, in sessions chaired by professors from National Cheng Kung University, Seattle University and the Nuremberg Institute of Technology. Their reviews synthesized published evidence on Scrum in safety-critical software, DevSecOps and the Kanban framework, contributing to Targets 4.3, 9.5 and 17.16.
International Partnerships, Exchanges and Training
January 5–13, 2025. Biomedical Engineering students from Pusan National University, South Korea, spent a week of training and workshops with UC Integrated School students, coordinated by the Global Engagements Office (GEO). On January 10, the UC Integrated School and Pusan National University signed a Memorandum of Agreement to advance cultural exchange, innovative educational practices and global competencies.
June 4, 2025. UC bade farewell to Konrad Fechtelhoff, a German exchange student who spent ten months in Grade 11 HUMSS under AFS Intercultural Programs, in collaboration with AFS Baguio. Representatives of the CHED International Affairs Service joined the send-off.
June 12–16, 2025. Sixteen UC administrators, deans and directors took part in iLEAD (International Leadership Engagements for Academic Development) in Taiwan, benchmarking international best practices and signing Memoranda of Understanding with Kun Shan University and I-Shou University for faculty and student exchange, joint research, and internships.
July 7–18, 2025. Dr. Reueben Victor Laguitan of the College of Nursing completed the Advanced Healthcare Professional Training Program at Taipei Medical University, covering digital healthcare, health technologies and global health systems, which informs UC’s Medical Laboratory Science program launched in August 2025.
July 29–30, 2025. GEO held two-day Student Internship Abroad Program (SIAP) sessions for graduating hospitality and tourism students with Dreamark TW, a Taiwan-based internship placement organization. A separate session with Dreamark TW reached around 55 graduating students from engineering, architecture and information technology programs.
Global Scholarship and Mobility Pipelines
January 20, 2025. GEO hosted Campus France Manila, which introduced scholarship programs for graduate study in France.
February 4, 2025. Fulbright Philippines and EducationUSA briefed students, faculty and staff on U.S. scholarships and study opportunities, followed by an alumni panel.
March 17, 2025. The International Talent Circulation Base (INTACT Base) presented Taiwan’s INTENSE Program, a government-backed pathway linking academic training, industry exposure and career placement in semiconductor and finance fields.
November 24, 2025. GEO hosted Session 7 (Humanities and Social Sciences) of the European Higher Education Fair 2025 Online Edition, featuring Sigmund Freud Private University, Austria.
November 27, 2025. In the UGrad on Air session, two Global Undergraduate Exchange Program alumni shared how exchange builds global perspectives and leadership skills.
November 28, 2025. As part of America250, Fulbright Scholar Dr. Krista E. Wiegand of the University of Tennessee lectured on U.S. foreign policy, conflict resolution and Indo-Pacific security for CCJE and College of Arts and Sciences students and faculty.
SDG Alignment
| SDG | Indicator or target | How UC’s 2025 initiatives align |
| 4 – Quality Education | 4.3 | International research presentations and exchange programs broadened access to quality tertiary education and global scholarships. |
| 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | 9.5, 9.5.2 | Student and faculty research outputs contributed to research capacity in software engineering and health technology. |
| 10 – Reduced Inequalities | Equitable access | Scholarship briefings and exchange programs opened international study to students of varied backgrounds. |
| 17 – Partnerships for the Goals | 17.16, 17.16.1 | MOAs, MoUs and international conferences engaged institutions across Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, France, the USA and Austria. |
References
CITCS Computer Science students showcase research at the 7th International Software Engineering Symposium in Japan – CITCS @UC. (2025, October 28). https://citcs.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/10/28/citcs-computer-science-students-showcase-research-at-the-7th-international-software-engineering-symposium-in-japan/
GEO conducts Two-Day SIAP information Sessions for hospitality and tourism students – GEO @UC. (2025, August 5). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/08/05/geo-conducts-two-day-siap-information-sessions-for-hospitality-and-tourism-students/
GEO hosts Campus France Manila Information Session for UC students and Staff – GEO @UC. (2025, January 31). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/01/31/geo-hosts-campus-france-manila-information-session-for-uc-students-and-staff/
GEO Hosts Information Session on Student Internship Abroad Program with Dreamark TW – GEO @UC. (2025, July 11). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/07/11/geo-hosts-information-session-on-student-internship-abroad-program-with-dreamark-tw/
UC-CCJE showcases research at International Conference in Thailand – CCJE @UC. (2025, November 3). https://ccje.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/11/03/uc-ccje-showcases-research-at-international-conference-in-thailand/
UC celebrates the successful exchange journey of German student, Konrad Fechtelhoff – GEO @UC. (2025, June 7). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/06/07/uc-celebrates-the-successful-exchange-journey-of-german-student-konrad-fechtelhoff/
UC fortifies global health ties as Dr. Laguitan completes TMU Advanced Healthcare training Program in Taiwan – GEO @UC. (2025, August 30). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/08/30/uc-fortifies-global-health-ties-as-dr-laguitan-completes-tmu-advanced-healthcare-training-program-in-taiwan/
UC Hosts America250 Lecture on U.S. Foreign Policy and Global Security with Fulbright Scholar Dr. Krista E. Wiegand – GEO @UC. (2025, December 5). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/12/05/uc-hosts-america250-lecture-on-u-s-foreign-policy-and-global-security-with-fulbright-scholar-dr-krista-e-wiegand/
UC hosts information session on Taiwan’s INTENSE Program for Global Career Opportunities – GEO @UC. (2025, March 28). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/03/28/uc-hosts-information-session-on-taiwans-intense-program-for-global-career-opportunities/
UC hosts UGRAD on Air: GEO Highlights Global Undergraduate Exchange Opportunities – GEO @UC. (2025, December 5). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/12/05/uc-hosts-ugrad-on-air-geo-highlights-global-undergraduate-exchange-opportunities/
UC joins European Higher Education Fair 2025 to promote Global Study Opportunities – GEO @UC. (2025, November 28). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/11/28/uc-geo-joins-european-higher-education-fair-2025-to-promote-global-study-opportunities/
UC Integrated School and Pusan National University forge global partnership – GEO @UC. (2025, January 17). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/01/17/uc-integrated-school-and-pusan-national-university-forge-global-partnership/
UC Launches iLEAD Program to Strengthen Global Academic Engagements – GEO @UC. (2025, June 28). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/06/28/uc-launches-ilead-program-to-strengthen-global-academic-engagements/
UC strengthens U.S. academic linkages through Fulbright Philippines and EducationUSA Information Session – GEO @UC. (2025, February 14). https://geo.uc-bcf.edu.ph/2025/02/14/uc-strengthens-u-s-academic-linkages-through-fulbright-philippines-and-educationusa-information-session/
