Isabela State University (ISU) accommodated the participants of the South Intensive Program 2025 for its Closing Program on February 21, 2025 at the Climate Change Center, ISU Echague.
The said closing program is the culmination of an exchange experience involving 50 students, 10 coaches, and 10 moderators from Belgium and various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from the Philippines.
The said closing program is the culmination of an exchange experience involving 50 students, 10 coaches, and 10 moderators from Belgium and various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from the Philippines.
During the program, messages were heard from Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino (University President), Ms. Joke Calcoen (International Coordinator, Biotechnology Hoges School of VIVES), Ms. Charlotte Christiaens (Project Coordinator, Global Minds Flemish Council of Colleges), and Ms. Lani Concepcion (Program Manager, Synergy Pilipinas).
In his message, Dr. Aquino hoped that there will be more programs and activities that will be implemented to provide solutions to the problems that the participating countries have encountered, and to continue the sharing of culture to promote better understanding between people.
“I would like to congratulate the organizers of the South Intensive Program 2025. Congratulations, and we hope for more activities that will be conducted in collaboration with different universities here in the Philippines,” Dr. Aquino expressed.
Highlights of the closing program include the case presentation of the participants in relation to their assignments along with the deliberations by the jury for further comments and improvements. In the same manner, the University hosted a Fellowship Night before the participants retreated to their respective Universities.
The exchange initiative aligns with the Synergy Program of the Province of West Flanders, aiming to foster collaboration among academia, local governments, NGOs, and community organizations in both the Philippines and Belgium. SIP 2025 hopes to promote world citizenship and enhance sustainable competencies among students and educators while strengthening partnerships between Philippine HEIs and their Belgian counterparts.
