UP Mindanao students, faculty, and staff acquired opportunities for internationalization through the HALIKA Roadshow of the UP Office of International Linkages (OIL), held at UP Mindanao’s Center for the Advancement of Research in Mindanao (CARIM) Complex on October 28, 2025.
“HALIKA, our program for ‘Harnessing Linkage Opportunities for Knowledge Advancement,’ wants you, UPMin constituents, to travel abroad,” said Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and OIL Director, Prof. Dolores Cecilia Madrid, in her Welcome Remarks. “Bring the best UPMin can offer, where knowledge knows no borders and collaboration has no limits,” she said.
Prof. Juma Novi Alviola, OIC of UPMin’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, said, “International movement creates partnerships, broadens the scholars’ world, and offers institutions connections for a shared understanding. These connections begin with conversations like these, where seeds of collaboration originate,” she said.
Mr. Guillian Mecate, Head of OIL’s Program Development and Strategy, and Ms. Chynna Louise Riego, Head of External Affairs, explained the importance of internationalization and how to make plans and initiate linkages, respectively.
Assoc. Prof. Dennis Sumaylo, UPMin’s Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Head of UPMin’s Office of International Linkages, gave updates on the outbound and inbound exchange students, agreements with partner institutions and networks, and existing linkages abroad.
Mr. Tarun Nallu, Regional Strategic Accounts Director at Coursera, participated in an online talk, “Leadership Mindsets: Invent the Future of Learning Everyday,” where he addressed the skills challenge of the emerging workforce, including the impact of AI.
Ms. Brittany Zhang of Johns Hopkins University (JHU), also online, presented the Fall 2026 MS Programs application, specifically the “4+1 Program Option at the JHU Carey Business School,” which offers a degree and US job experience.
Ms. Ashley Masangkay, Program Manager, discussed the Travel Grant Program, and Mr. Julio Legaspi, Program Manager, presented Hosting for International Conferences and the World Experts Lecture Series (WELS). Assoc. Prof. Dennis John Sumaylo, and Prof. Larry Digal also shared a testimonial from their extensive international experience.
Open Forums with the onsite and online resource persons culminated each session, allowing the audience to ask questions and explore their options in more detail.
“Internationalization is among UP Mindanao’s strategic priorities, “ said Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao. “I am a full believer in global engagement because it clarifies one’s values, enriches experience, and helps one develop an agile understanding of people and competencies,” she said. “But, for those who are not traveling out, we shall bring the world to UPMin,” she said.
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