By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

Reaping bountiful harvests in its internationalization efforts, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) emerged victorious in the ASEAN Philippine Higher Education International Champions of Nation-Building and Sustainability (ICONS) Internationalization Awards 2022 organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). 

MMSU was cited as an Internationally Ranked and Rated Higher Education Institution for its feats in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Stars Rating, Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, and the World Universities with Real Impact Rankings (WURI). 

The university also qualified as a national finalist in two ASEAN ICONS categories: Global Citizenship Award; and the Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award. 

The Global Citizenship Award recognizes higher education institutions with the best programs or projects that promoted their and the country’s social, political, environmental, and economic development. Also, they should have furthered the internationalization of Philippine higher education as a part of a global network. 

The Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award. commends HEIs with the best social engagement activities or initiatives which advance quality higher education by reaching out to the community and inspiring social responsibility among its stakeholders. 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis received the awards in a ceremony held August 26 at Hilton Hotel in Pasay City. Led by CHED Chair J. Prospero E. De Vera III, the ASEAN ICONS Awards is in line with the celebration of the 55th Founding Anniversary of ASEAN. 

Dr. Mee Jay Domingo, university’s director for internationalization, linkages, and partnerships, said MMSU became a finalist for the major ASEAN ICONS categories because of its remarkable IZN achievements and high impact development initiatives. 

MMSU currently holds three QS Stars and is ranked second in the Philippines and 401st-600th in THE Impact Rankings. It is also among the Global Top 101-200 universities in the WURI for 2021-2022, landing in the roster of Global Top 50 Universities for Fourth Industrial Revolution (rank 4), industrial application (rank 36), and crisis management (rank 49).

The university is also active in promoting social, political, environmental, and economic development through its project ACHIEVE. . To raise the standards of social responsibility and expanding access to quality higher education, the university implements the project titled, “MMSU Collective Initiative on Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.” 

Furthermore, MMSU, through the leadership of PSCA, is at the forefront in forging and sustaining international partnerships with various universities, agencies, and organizations worldwide for academic, research, extension and development exchanges, and promoting international mobility of its personnel and students. These initiatives are guided by the MMSU Strategic Internationalization Plan. – with reports from Chessa Pae N. Faustino, correspondent (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)