Urdaneta City University welcomed representatives from the University of La Salette, Inc., based in Santiago City, Isabela, for a benchmarking visit on October 19, 2026, at the University Conference Room. The activity was conducted under the University's PANAGTINNULONG initiative, which promotes collaboration and the sharing of best practices to achieve brighter futures.
The benchmarking visit welcomed Rouel L. Ramirez, DBA, Director of External Affairs and International Relations, and Dr. Madeilyn Estacio, Vice President for Academic Affairs, representing the University of La Salette. The activity aimed to facilitate knowledge exchange and provide opportunities for both institutions to learn from each other's experiences in internationalization and higher education.
The sessions featured an overview of the PANAGTINNULONG project and the objectives of the benchmarking activity, followed by a presentation on UCU’s current internationalization status. Representatives from the University of La Salette also shared their internationalization practices and experiences, including collaborative online international learning (COIL), highlighting practices, experiences, and opportunities for collaboration.
The activity continued with a benchmarking discussion on good practices, challenges, and lessons learned, allowing participants to exchange insights on strengthening internationalization initiatives. UCU and the University of La Salette also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their commitment to institutional collaboration and explore opportunities for future cooperation.
Through the benchmarking visit, UCU further strengthened its commitment to institutional collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the continuous improvement of its internationalization initiatives. The initiative supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).#
