The Commission on Higher Education RO2 invited Saint Mary’s University to share its internationalization initiatives and experience in joining international rankings to capacitate higher educational institutions in Cagayan Valley about global rankings. 

Three speakers from SMU were invited, namely Dr. John Octavious S. Palina (University President), Dr. Darwin Don M. Dacles (University Research Director), and Dr. Clara Gonzales (Head of the Promotions, External Relations, and Internationalization Office). 

Dr. Palina shared SMU’s internationalization journey, highlighting the importance of aligning institutional goals with the UN sustainable development goals. He presented SMU’s share of challenges in advancing its internationalization initiatives and the strategies to overcome them.  

Dr. Dacles and Dr. Gonzales talked about SMU’s journey and best practices in its first attempt to join the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), which placed SMU as one of the Top 300 innovative universities in the world. They shared some practical methodologies and sample innovative programs. 

The event, which revolved around WURI and THE Impact Rankings, was participated in by representatives from the different HEIs in Region 2. 

Atty. Marco Cicero F. Domingo, the CHEDRO2 director-in-charge, led the CHEDRO2 Team to organize the event.