On February 20, 2025, Saint Mary’s University (SMU) in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, engaged in a productive benchmarking activity with its sister institution, Saint Louis University (SLU) in Baguio City. Both schools are part of the CICM (Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) Philippines Schools Network (PSN), a shared foundation that has strengthened their academic collaboration over the years. This event marked an important step in their ongoing commitment to improving educational quality and institutional management.

The purpose of the benchmarking was to exchange best practices, learn from each other’s experiences, and further enhance the operational and academic systems at SMU. 

Several areas were highlighted for benchmarking, and counterparts from SLU and SMU engaged in focused discussions in these fields:

1. International Program Accreditation (AUN-QA)
   Mr. Hector Martin, Director of the Office of Internationalization and Development for Quality Assurance (OIDQA) at SLU, met with Mrs. Pearl Via Coballes, Director of the Institutional Development and Quality Assurance Office (IDQAO) at SMU, to discuss procedures and best practices in achieving international accreditation standards.
2. Communication Procedures
   Atty. Johanne Margarette R. Macob, Officer at the University Information Office at SLU, worked with Dr. Clara Gonzales, Head of Promotions, External Relations, and Internationalization Office at SMU, to review the communication strategies that both universities employ to engage with their stakeholders effectively.
3. Internationalization Strategies
   Dr. Stephenie Busbos, Global Relations Officer at SLU, and Dr. Clara Gonzales from SMU focused on strategies to increase global partnerships, academic mobility, and opportunities for student and faculty exchange programs, ensuring their institutions remain competitive and internationally connected.
4. Data Privacy Procedures
   Dr. Cecilia A. Mercado, Officer at SLU’s Data Protection Office, met with Dr. Harrison Villanueva, Assistant Director of IDQAO at SMU, to share insights on enhancing data privacy management and aligning both universities with the latest national and international standards for data protection.
5. Website Management, including Posting on Google News
   Dr. Cecilia A. Mercado, Director of Technology Management and Management Department at SLU, discussed with Mr. Antonio Sugay, Website Administrator at the Center for Information and Communication Technology at SMU, how both universities can optimize their online presence and explore new opportunities, such as posting on Google News for better visibility.
6. Sustainability Initiatives
   Dr. Joselito C. Gutierrez, Executive Assistant to the President and Head of the SDG Center at SLU, and Dr. Elsa Cajucom, Focal Person for the UI GreenMetric Initiative at SMU’s Center for Natural Sciences, explored initiatives related to environmental sustainability and the universities’ commitments to supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
7. Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking Strategies
   Mr. Hector Martin from SLU’s OIDQA and Dr. Christopher Allen Marquez, Head of the Community Engagement and Indigenous Peoples’ Studies Center at SMU, delved into the strategies for improving their rankings in international assessments such as the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings, discussing ways to boost both universities’ global visibility.