CMU sends two Agriculture Grantees to Chiang Mai University under AIMS Program
Central Mindanao University (CMU) has successfully sent two grantees from its College of Agriculture to Chiang Mai University in Thailand under the Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) Program, from June 17 to November 6, 2026, marking another milestone in its internationalization journey.
Both grantees are third-year Bachelor of Science in Agriculture students majoring in Animal Science, representing CMU and the Philippines in this prestigious exchange.
This achievement reflects the strong collaboration among the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), CMU, and Chiang Mai University in advancing student mobility and academic exchange across Southeast Asia. The AIMS Program, a flagship initiative of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Institute of Higher Education and Development (RIHED SEAMEO), seeks to create a vibrant higher education area by promoting student mobility among ASEAN member countries and beyond. Its objectives include strengthening regional academic linkages, cultivating globally competent graduates, and fostering cross-cultural understanding.
For CMU, participation in AIMS is a vital step toward enhancing its international profile and preparing its students for the demands of a globalized workforce.
CHED plays a pivotal role in this endeavor by providing financial support and policy guidance to participating universities. Through its Higher Education Development Fund, CHED ensures that institutions like CMU can send students abroad to gain meaningful academic and cultural experiences. CMU, as one of the two universities in Mindanao selected to represent the Philippines under AIMS, continues to demonstrate its commitment to excellence and international collaboration. Chiang Mai University, meanwhile, has warmly welcomed CMU’s students, offering them opportunities to learn, adapt, and thrive in a new academic and cultural environment.
The students themselves described their stay in Thailand as both fun and transformative. “The language barrier can be confusing sometimes, but it also gives us the funniest moments… In the end, this experience helped us become more confident, make new friends, and enjoy learning about a different culture,” shared Cyfer El F. Limocon and Joel A. Obtenario, CMU’s grantees from the College of Agriculture. Their reflections underscore the program’s success in building resilience, adaptability, and intercultural competence among participants.
Looking ahead, CMU hopes to expand its participation in the AIMS Program by sending more agriculture students to partner universities in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. With CHED’s continued support and the commitment of host institutions like Chiang Mai University, CMU envisions greater opportunities for its students to engage in international learning, thereby enriching their academic preparation and broadening their horizons.
According to the Director of the Office of International Relations, Dr. Raquelyn J. Dadang, this engagement stands as a testament to the power of collaboration in higher education and the shared vision of ASEAN universities to cultivate globally competitive graduates. CMU’s growing involvement in AIMS signals a promising future for student mobility and international partnerships in Philippine higher education. [Reports from the Office of International Relations]
