international education

Cross-cultural education is critically important in navigating the complex issues of our society today. Debates surrounding equality, diversity, and inclusion underscore the necessity for intercultural communication competence, cultural sensitivity, and an interdisciplinary mindset.

Having won several scholarships and grants over the past 12 years, I developed a profound understanding of the differences and interconnectedness of our cultures, languages, belief systems, values, and principles. It all started in 2012 when I studied abroad for two semesters at Chulalongkorn University (Chula) through the ASEAN University Network (AUN) Student Exchange Programme under the ASEAN Credit Transfer System (ACTS) Scheme. I was one of the five inaugural scholars sent by the University of the Philippines (UP) System to the AUN-ACTS student mobility program and one of the first three outbound exchange students from UP Mindanao.

Since then, I have been privileged to represent UP and the Philippines in international events and programs. These include the First ASEAN Student Forum and the ASEAN Youth Exchange Program in Thailand, organized and sponsored by Chula; and the JENESYS Programme (Batch 3: for Mass Media students) in Japan, funded by the Japanese government. In 2022, I was honored to receive the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Scholarship to pursue a fully funded joint master's degree in Euroculture under the consortium of leading universities in the European Union: the University of Groningen (the Netherlands), the University of Deusto in Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain), and the Univerzita Palackého in Olomouc (Czechia).

Throughout these international experiences, I learned new languages, became culturally aware and sensitive, and gained many friends from diverse backgrounds. Such exposure to intercultural activities and events, among many things, reinforced my belief in the beauty of our diversity and a common goal for a more just and egalitarian society.