MSU at Naawan Expands Global Ties as Chancellor Roa Joins Philippine Delegation at CBIE Conference 2025
Mindanao State University at Naawan strengthened its global engagement efforts as Chancellor Dr. Elnor C. Roa joined the Philippine delegation to the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) Annual Conference 2025, along with institutional visits and meetings in Quebec City and Montreal, Canada, from November 1–9, 2025. Organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the mission aimed to reinforce the Philippines–Canada partnership in internationalization, capacity building, and transnational higher education (TNHE).
During the conference, Chancellor Roa actively participated in engagements with Canadian higher education institutions (HEIs), provincial government partners, and sustainability networks to explore opportunities for joint programs, faculty and student mobility, and collaborative research initiatives. The delegation also highlighted the strengths and global engagement efforts of Philippine HEIs, including MSUN, while gaining insights into emerging trends in international education and best practices from Canadian institutions.
Key objectives of the mission included strengthening the CHED–CBIE collaboration, promoting the Philippine higher education sector in international platforms, and establishing long-term partnerships with Canadian stakeholders. As part of the mission’s outputs, the delegation will produce a comprehensive post-mission report, conduct debriefing and re-echoing sessions with CHED and HEIs, and develop a roadmap of planned collaborative activities aligned with national and ASEAN Chairmanship priorities. The mission also supported the expansion of the Philippines–Canada Network for Sustainability (PCNS) to foster academic and research partnerships focused on sustainability. Furthermore, a delivery HEI partner will be identified to support CHED’s Leading Internationalization Project, ensuring exposure to Canadian best practices in higher education internationalization.
MSUN’s participation through Chancellor Roa is expected to contribute significantly to strengthening institutional capacity, expanding global linkages, and promoting innovation in academic and research programs. The activity is also expected to support the long-term outcomes of the CHED–CBIE partnership, including the formalization of collaborative agreements between Philippine and Canadian institutions, enhanced visibility of Philippine higher education, and improved benchmarking against international TNHE practices. Chancellor Roa emphasized that MSU at Naawan’s involvement in this mission reinforces the university’s commitment to global collaboration, quality education, and transformative research. The insights and partnerships developed in Canada will help shape new pathways for academic mobility, research innovation, and sustainable development initiatives, positioning MSUN as a forward-looking institution dedicated to international excellence.
