Our society is composed of various but interconnected institutional spheres, the most common of which are family, economy, polity, medicine or health care, religion, law, and education (Glass et al., 1990). Among the institutional spheres, education guarantees the systematic transmission of knowledge, skills, cultural norms, and values through a formal agency. One of the latest developments in education is a focus on cultivating diversity. This creates unity among diverse populations (Zhang 2019). The Mindanao State University has become a model for serving students from different cultures and backgrounds by implementing policies that help support productive members of society. Its current policies and guidelines, however, need reassessing and updating to accommodate the ever-changing demands of clients as well as provide an environment suitable for all employees.

The diverse cultural backgrounds in Mindanao poses both challenges and opportunities for engagement. Faced with demands from the ASEAN market, higher education products have risen to a new level. They are envisioned to exemplify a broad range of skills, including cross-cultural communication; collaboration, and interpersonal influence; adaptive thinking; emotional intelligence (EQ); and resilience—the ability to thrive even beyond one's comfort zone (Adeyemo, 2019). These skill sets help propel economic, political, and socio-cultural growth in the region and the nation.

Likewise, the main mission of MSU is the commitment to the total development of man and the search for truth, virtue, and academic excellence within a culturally diverse context. In retrospect, the Mindanao State University first operated in 1961. It is the only university in the Philippines with a special mandate of integrating the cultural communities, especially the Muslims into the mainstream of the national body politic, and by providing them with opportunities for quality and relevant public education for the socio-economic development of the Mindanao, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi Tawi and Palawan Region. Mindanao State University (MSU) has evolved into a university system comprising Mindanao State University Marawi (main campus), MSU-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, MSU-General Santos, MSU-Maguindanao, MSU-Lanao National College of Arts and Trades, MSU-Sulu, MSU-Buug, MSU-Naawan, MSU Lanao del Norte Agricultural College, MSU-Maigo School of Arts and Trades and very recently the opening of MSU-Sindangan Campus and MSU-Batarasa, Palawan Campus. After 61 years, the MSU System has fulfilled its mandate and is becoming a National Peace University pending the passage of a new charter.

The MSU System has a long and storied history that dates back to the early 1960s. It is expected to continue making significant contributions in its field in years to come. The raison d’etre of the MSU System is its academic sector. Many BOR policies and guidelines concerning academic affairs have been accumulated but there has not been a system-wide meeting of minds in order to rationalize them, so much of the content of the MSU Code and Code of Governance may consist largely of items that are classic—and still useful, but many can be regarded as old-fashioned and need revision. The MSU System recently conducted the Finance Summit in Cebu from 9 to 13 August 2022, and the consensus was that a complementary Academic Summit is needed.

The ideal time has come for the MSU System to revisit policies and guidelines regarding academic matters following participatory and bottom-up approaches. Such an Academic Summit is also a chance for constituents to share successes, inspire each other and agree on areas of collaboration. This summit will provide an opportunity for rediscovering our strengths as an institution that aims to be recognized as world-class and a future influencer. Therefore, the first MSU System Academic Summit will emphasize sharing, collaboration, and unity among all MSU campuses. It will provide a forum for promoting strategic planning to deal with changing conditions and respond to global challenges such as the ongoing health crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a great deal to discuss on how education has changed over recent years and how the current learning environment demands new policy options for implementation. Hence, the Academic Summit is an opportunity to unite and influence the future.