Cebu Technological University (CTU) is advancing its global engagement as it joins the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in hosting the Higher Education Partnerships Conference (HEPCON) 2026 on October 1–2 at Radisson Blu Cebu.
The two-day conference brings together higher education leaders, government officials, and industry representatives from the Philippines and abroad to forge partnerships and explore new avenues for cooperation in higher education.
It includes keynote addresses, panel discussions, an education exhibition, breakout sessions, and business-to-business and partnership meetings.
In her keynote address, CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis stressed the need to turn international linkages into purposeful partnerships with clear goals and outcomes.
“Because universities are connected to one another, or because we have signed agreements with international partners, we need to build that network by setting clear goals and identifying the essentials to realize them,” Dr. Agrupis said.
She said 326 Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) are linked with 2,479 foreign partners across 116 countries, providing a broad foundation for international engagement.
HEPCON 2026 brings together participants from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Russia.
Keynote speakers include H.E. Mariano Assanami Sabino, Vice Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, and Shahrill Bin Sabarudin of Education Malaysia Global Services.
The conference also features Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Partnership Meetings, giving participating institutions opportunities to formalize existing collaborations and explore new areas of cooperation.
Panel discussions feature Dr. Desiderio R. Apag III, Prof. Ir EUR ING Dr. Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Kenny Soh Zhaojin, Sengmeng Koo, Anna Floresca F. Firmalino, Dr. Joey Genevieve T. Martinez, and Dr. Julie Brown.
Breakout sessions included presentations by Prof. Timothy Chan, Dr. Teh Choon Jin, Dr. Tristan L. Abando, Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, and Dir. Reniel A. Villaflor.
The convening also examines emerging issues in international higher education, with SEAMEO RIHED Chief Policy Officer Philip Masterson focusing on building a common higher education space in Southeast Asia and James Cook University Deputy Director Jacky Leng examining the future of international recruitment in the age of AI.
Day 1 concluded with a Gala Dinner where CTU OIC President Dr. Jonita V. Literatus delivered her welcome remarks, affirming the institution’s commitment to boosting global ties.
HEPCON 2026 is organized by MSW Global, a Jakarta-based marketing and event management firm.
Led by Dr. Rhodora Magan, CTU’s Internationalization and ASEAN Integration advances the university’s global engagement by fostering strategic partnerships and sustained collaboration among higher education institutions, government, and industry across the region.
