Dr. Jay C. Santos, Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), and Dr. Melanie P. Tolentino, Head of the Center for Central Luzon Studies (CCLS) of Central Luzon State University (CLSU), took part in a series of lectures, collaborative meetings, and academic engagements as part of the faculty mobility and collaboration program under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CLSU and Gandaki University (GU) in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal, in partnership with Hokkaido University (HU), Japan, held from May 23 to June 5, 2025.

As one of the key proponents of the MoU between CLSU and GU, Dr. Tolentino served as Session Chair for the roundtable titled Mobility, Marginality, and Modernity in a Demographically Changing Asia at the Association for Asian Studies (AAS)-in-Asia Conference 2025. The session featured Dr. Kailash Timilsina of GU, Dr. Yoshihide Obayashi of HU, and Dr. Jay C. Santos of CLSU as discussants. The conference was jointly organized by the AAS, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Social Science Baha (SSB) in Kathmandu.

As part of the academic exchange, Dr. Santos delivered a special lecture on Sports Psychology and Management to faculty and students at Gandaki University. Both CLSU faculty members also participated in joint lectures with GU counterparts, focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly on health, sustainable communities, and global partnerships.

In line with the objectives of the exchange program, Dr. Tolentino and Dr. Santos conducted collaborative discussions with GU and HU faculty, resulting in two proposed research topic outlines, an initial draft of a tri-country collaborative project, and the development of a joint manuscript. They also explored student exchange initiatives, with both CLSU and GU expressing strong interest in formalizing exchange programs in the near future.

Dr. Obayashi, who also serves as Program Head of the Sakura Science Exchange Program—an annual initiative participated in by CLSU—joined the final leg of activities in Gandaki, further reinforcing the trilateral partnership.

Beyond academic engagements, Dr. Tolentino and Dr. Santos were warmly welcomed by GU leadership, including Prof. Naba Raj Devkota, Vice Chancellor of Gandaki University. The CLSU delegation also took part in cultural and heritage visits across Pokhara and Kathmandu, enriching their understanding of Nepal’s cultural heritage and educational landscape.

This international mobility activity reaffirms CLSU’s commitment to advancing global academic collaboration, fostering multicultural learning, and contributing to research partnerships that address pressing global challenges.