UCU joins over 80 HEIs in COIL Conference 2025

Urdaneta City University (UCU) took part in the International Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Conference 2025 on May 21-22, 2025 held at Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City. The event, hosted by Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. (HCCCI) in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education – International Affairs Service (CHED-IAS) and CHED Regional Office XII, convened over 80 higher education institutions (HEIs) from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

UCU was represented by Dr. Sonny Soriano, the Director for External Affairs and Linkages, who joined the nationwide community of International Relations Officers, educators, and academic leaders in exploring the future of internationalization through digital innovation, marking the university’s continuing commitment to expanding global opportunities for its students and faculty, specifically through technology-enabled academic exchanges.

The two-day conference opened with a welcoming address by CHEDRO XII Regional Director Dr. Rody P. Garcia, who emphasized the growing importance of regional voices in shaping international education. 

Atty. Lily Freida M. Milla, CESO III and Director of CHED-IAS, delivered the keynote speech, declaring that “internationalization is no longer a privilege—it is a right for every Filipino learner, regardless of their geography.”

In plenary sessions and breakout forums, Ms. Hope Windle, Director of the SUNY COIL Center, traced the roots and evolution of COIL, while Dr. Michelle Aguilar-Ong of Mabalacat City College and Dr. Emma Zhang of Hong Kong Baptist University spoke about institutional transformation through virtual exchange. UCU engaged in critical discussions around integrating COIL into the curriculum, faculty development, and building sustainable global partnerships even without outbound mobility.

Dr. Christine Nabor-Ferrer, CHEDRO I Regional Director, further underscored the need to embed COIL within the academic fabric of institutions in Northern Luzon. Her message resonated deeply with UCU, which has long advocated for inclusive access to internationalization in Region I.

UCU’s involvement in the COIL Conference affirms its strategic direction toward sustainable and scalable international engagement. The university has already begun exploring COIL partnerships with ASEAN neighbors and global academic institutions, aligned with its vision of “transforming lives and communities through quality education with global relevance.”

“COIL is more than a method—it is a mindset,” said Dr. Soriano. “It empowers students in Pangasinan to collaborate with peers in USA, Indonesia, or Bangladesh. It brings global conversations into our classrooms. And most importantly, it tells our students: your voice matters on the world stage.”

The conference culminated with action planning sessions and institutional sharing that equipped participating HEIs, including UCU, with practical frameworks for implementing COIL. Supported by CHEDRO XII’s “SOX – Strategic Optimization of eXcellence” framework and CHED-IAS’s national roadmap, UCU aims to initiate COIL programs beginning academic year 2025–2026.

As internationalization becomes increasingly digital, UCU stands ready to bridge local and global learning through inclusive, technology-driven initiatives. Its participation in the COIL Conference 2025 signals a bold step forward—not only for the university but for its students, faculty, and the broader Region I community.#