Fostering international relations, Mabalacat City College President Dr. Michelle Aguilar-Ong joined the Philippine delegation of Commission on Higher Education delegation in the 15th British Columbia International Education Week (BCIEW) on 23-26 June 2024 in Vancouver Canada.
British Columbia International Education Week is an annual event intended to provide excellent opportunities to network and connect with International Education leaders. Aside from MCC, CHED Delegation on the event comprised of representatives from Centro Escolar University and University of the Philippines, Los Baños.
Dr. Ong also attended several high-level meetings with CHED Chairperson Popoy De Vera, Philippine Consul General Arlene Magno and Embassy of Canada to the Philippines Trade Commissioner Angel Cachuela. These include meetings with Colleges and Institutes Canada, CEO of MITACS John Hepburn, Vice President of Canadian Bureau for International Education Ms. Karen Dalkie and Province of Nova Scotia Deputy Minister for Advanced Education Ryan Grant among others as the Lead of Key Responsibility Area (KRA) 1: Sector of the CHED IAS-iNRC (International Affairs Staff-Internationalization National Review Committee).
Additionally, Dr. Ong witnessed the signing of memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the promotion of education cooperation at the Vancouver Cabinet Office between CHED Chairperson Prospero ‘Popoy’ De Vera and British Columbia Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Minister Lisa Beare. The CHED-BC partnership will provide HEIs with opportunities to study or practice in British Columbia's post-secondary institutions for skills, professional, and curriculum development.
She also presented MCC's best practices during the Philippine Session alongside representatives from the Philippine delegation. She discussed the college’s internationalization strategic development, categorizing potential collaborative countries based on economic factors and presence in our community. Furthermore, she elaborated how these collaborations typically begin with Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) then progress to a more action-oriented programs. MCC continues to create a space for itself in the international community through partnering with international universities and colleges through joining internationalization programs such this.
