Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
In its continuing pursuit of strengthened internationalization and expanded global partnerships, Central Mindanao University (CMU) participated in the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2025, held on November 4–6, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea.
This year’s summit brought together more than 1,500 delegates and 180 speakers from universities across the Asia Pacific region, including representatives from 23 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines, including CMU.
CMU was represented by Dr. Winson M. Gutierrez, Director of the Livestock Enterprise Office and Internal Quality Auditor. The participation of Philippine SUCs was supported by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which provided one free registration slot per institution.
Centered on the theme “Advancing Generational Potential: Skills and Partnerships in the Asia Pacific,” the three-day summit featured discussions on the most pressing issues shaping the future of higher education. Topics included AI and Digital Transformation; Global Competitiveness and Internationalization; Strategic University–Industry–Government Partnerships; Sustainability and Green Campus Initiatives; Transnational Education and Student Mobility; and The Development of Critical Thinkers and Innovators for a Technology-driven World.
These conversations underscored how universities can pursue global expansion while remaining committed to sustainability, an advocacy closely aligned with CMU’s vision to become “a leading ASEAN university actively committed to the total development of people for a globally sustainable environment and a humane society.”
During the closing session, QS organizers announced that the next QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2026 will be held in Bali, Indonesia. With this, CMU reaffirms its commitment to strengthening its global presence through sustained participation in international conferences, strategic partnerships, and research collaborations.
Following the summit, Dr. Gutierrez traveled to Gyeongsang National University (GNU) in Jinju City to reconnect with long-time partner institutions. He met with Prof. Pil Joo Kim and Prof. Chang Hong Hee to discuss ways to deepen CMU–GNU collaborations, including the potential upgrading of existing agreements into a university-level Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The visit also included a brief campus tour before Dr. Gutierrez proceeded to Busan for his departure back to the Philippines.
Meanwhile, CHED announced through its official Facebook page that the Philippines achieved its strongest-ever performance in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, with 35 Philippine Higher Education Institutions, including CMU, earning a spot on the list. This milestone highlights the nation’s growing international presence and competitiveness and reflects the collective progress of Philippine higher education institutions under the ACHIEVE Agenda. The QS Quacquarelli Symonds, organizer of the summit and publisher of the QS World University Rankings, is a global leader in higher education analytics and services. Its mission is to help learners worldwide achieve their potential through educational opportunities, international mobility, and career development. (Iyren D. Neri with Reports from Dr. Winson Gutierrez, Director of the Livestock Enterprise Office and Internal Quality Auditor)
