The ASEAN Universities Exhibition and Forum (AEF) 2025 has gathered 90 higher educational institutions (HEIs) around the region, including the Holy Cross of Davao College as among the Commision on Higher Education’s (CHED) selection for its 18 Philippine delegation.
The 2025 AEF edition, organized by the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) on February 23 to 25, is the largest inaugural exhibition of the ASEAN Region, wherein HCDC’s Head of the Center for Linkages, Internationalization & Language Studies (LINK-IN & LS), and Concurrent Head of the Institute of ASEAN-European Studies (IAES) engaged in scholarly discussion with different universities in the forum that highlighted the achievements and innovations of top institutions, providing a platform for benchmarking and sharing of best practices.
Professors, academic enthusiasts, and educational scholars gathered in Sunway Resort Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and explored a meaningful conversation centered on its theme on sustainability and inclusivity, as well as discussing potential academic partnerships in the internationalization landscape of the HCDC.
CHED Commissioner Dr. Maria R. Canapi facilitated the Minister of Higher Education of Malaysia YB Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir during the launch of the ASEAN Global Exchange for Mobility and Scholarship (GEMS). Three-hundred students will be recipients of the 4 million USD-funded student mobility scholarship.
Urdaneta, along with the Philippine delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Philippine Ambassador in Malaysia, H.E. Ambassador Maria Angela Ponce.
The second day of the AEF featured fora, which delved into topics like TVET and Transnational Higher Education, which is a thrust for the ASEAN. CHED Commissioner Dr. Marita R. Canapi from the Philippines gave her talk about Empowering ASEAN Higher Education Common Space through Transnational Higher Education.
Sunway University Selangor-Campus in Malaysia was also visited by Urdaneta and the delegation, wherein they were introduced with the Provost, Prof. Abhi Veerakumarasivam. Sunway University Team and the members of the CHED delegation explored potential areas for collaboration, with a focus on working together to strengthen collaboration within the ASEAN region.
HCDC is in high hopes to forge a broader community of collaboration and partnerships in the ASEAN region, and strengthen the academic experience of Holy Crossians through bridging and providing educational exposure through academic and international student mobility scholarships.