Marikina Polytechnic College President Dr. Rene M. Colocar and Universitas Andalas of Indonesia Rector Dr. Efa Yonnedi officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 22, 2026 at the Indonesia Convention Center in Jakarta, during the Times Higher Education Global Sustainable Development Congress 2026.

President Colocar said that this milestone translates MPC’s institutional achievements, directly building on the outcomes of the “Creating Sustainability iMPaCt” initiative led by Pres. Colocar and supported by the MPC community. Under the agreement, both schools will work as equal partners on joint research, curriculum development, teacher exchanges, and student programs.

“This international partnership serves as a bridge between our local academic initiatives and global innovations. By working together across borders, we are expanding opportunities for our students and faculty while strengthening our shared commitment to creating long-term, sustainable impact,” Pres. Colocar said.

The MPC-UNAND partnership is supported by the Commission on Higher Education’s ACHIEVE Agenda led by Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis and MPC’s Board of Trustees Chair and CHED Commissioner Michelle Aguilar-Ong as this internationalization project focuses on the strategic advancement of institutional internationalization, global network expansion, elevating institutional prestige, and aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

To drive measurable progress, the college is implementing specific projects aligned with the United Nations’ SDGs by executing an Institutional SDG Mapping Matrix to formally embed global benchmarks directly into MPC’s current research output, classroom curriculum, and community extension programs.

To note, MPC has been organizing Global Trends Re-echo Workshops for MPC administrators and faculty members to study global higher education performance data and case studies, while simultaneously fast-tracking Transnational Joint Projects with international partners to co-develop community-driven societal projects.

Dr. Rudy James D. Tabasa, Director for External and Internationation, noted that these alliances successfully pave the way for future global exchanges. This latest signing follows MPC’s recent internationalization benchmarks, including an academic trip to Bangkok, Thailand, and recent cross-border collaborative exchanges with institutions in Indonesia. The college is also preparing its strategic programs to vie for global recognition under the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) and the THE ranking systems.

Ongoing participation in the THE Global Sustainable Development Congress 2026 provides an opportunity for the college to strengthen its international partnerships, benchmark institutional performance against global sustainability standards, and gain strategic access to the Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026. Through these structured frameworks, MPC accelerates its strategic transition toward becoming “The Future National TVET University of the Philippines.” #