Central Luzon State University (CLSU), one of 17 Philippine higher education institutions in the AIMS Programme, took part in the 20th Annual Review Meeting of the Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) Programme, held on 14–16 October 2026 in Iloilo City, through its International Affairs Office (IAO).

Dr. Emil F. Ubaldo, Chief of the IAO’s Mobility and Intercultural Exchange Division and CLSU’s AIMS Programme Coordinator, represented the University and held bilateral meetings with university representatives from AIMS-member institutions in the ASEAN region as well as from Japan and South Korea.

Dr. Ubaldo briefed counterparts on CLSU’s revised academic calendar, which since last year begins the first semester in June instead of August and the second in November instead of January, and together they explored how to match students and synchronize exchange periods so that inbound and outbound students can complete a full semester abroad without delaying their studies at home.

Dr. Ubaldo met with Dr. Raden Dikky Indrawan, S.P., M.M., Director of International Education of IPB University, one of CLSU’s most active partners in the AIMS Programme. The meeting focused on sustaining the strong flow of student exchanges between the two institutions. They also discussed adjusting mobility schedules to fit CLSU’s new academic calendar.

Also from Indonesia, CLSU met with Ms. Rakhma Melati Sujarwo, Academic Staff and Mobility Team Coordinator of the Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS). Their discussion centered on practical arrangements for student placement, course matching, and coordination between the two universities’ agriculture programs.

From Thailand, Dr. Ubaldo met with Asst. Prof. Dr. Benjamas Suksatit, Assistant to the President of Chiang Mai University. They discussed opportunities for student mobility in agriculture under the AIMS framework and how the two universities’ academic terms can be aligned for exchange.

CLSU likewise engaged with Assoc. Prof. Surachet Aramrak of the Faculty of Agriculture, Assistant to the President for Academic Affairs and Lifelong Learning at Kasetsart University. Both institutions have strong agricultural programs. The meeting explored matching students in agriculture-related courses and creating exchange opportunities that benefit both universities.

Dr. Ubaldo met with Dr. Wendy Pei Qin Ng, Director of the UTB Global Office. They discussed potential student mobility in agriculture and opportunities to build a sustainable exchange partnership between CLSU and UTB.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Dr. Ubaldo met with Dr. Phattaree Subphachaisirikul, Director of the International Center for Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT). They discussed holding an information-sharing session on faculty development for CLSU’s College of Engineering. The first session would focus on graduate study and scholarship opportunities at KMUTT for the faculty members of the civil engineering program to start an academic collaboration.

Earlier this year, CLSU proposed to the CHED International Affairs Service to expand its AIMS participation to disciplines in which it is a CHED Center of Excellence or has AUN-QA-certified undergraduate programs, and in line with this, Dr. Ubaldo met with prospective partner universities in other fields to explore future collaboration and lay the groundwork for new partnerships and wider student mobility once the expansion is approved.

Through its active participation in AIMS, CLSU continues to pursue an internationalization agenda grounded in its strength in agriculture while reaching into new disciplines. By deepening established partnerships and building new ones, the University aims to create accessible and meaningful international opportunities for both its students and faculty across Asia.