NWU Internationalization Office

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 (𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐒) 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐬, 𝐎𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐌𝐨𝐔).

The partnership builds upon years of active engagement between the two institutions through international forums, research collaborations, academic exchanges, and global initiatives. Both universities also expressed their commitment to expanding Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL programs, research partnerships, and future academic and cultural exchanges.
This milestone reflects the shared vision of Northwestern University and UTAS Shinas in promoting innovation, internationalization, cross-cultural understanding, and global academic excellence for students, faculty, and the wider academic community.

Northwestern University, officially strengthens its global academic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with National Chi Nan University during the 2026 HLU Annual Conference & WURI Global Rankings Ceremony in Taiwan.

Representing Northwestern University in the ceremonial signing was Jezreel Larry R. Caunca, Director of the Northwestern University – Philippine Center for Foresight Education and Innovation Research Institute (NWU PhilForesight Institute).

The partnership aims to foster international collaboration in research, academic exchange, innovation, futures education, and global learning initiatives between the two institutions.

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐂𝐎𝐈𝐋 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

Northwestern University’s College of Business Education and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) conducted an initial virtual meeting to develop a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program in International Marketing. The session focused on the program’s framework, including learning objectives, course content, student participation, and collaborative activities designed to integrate intercultural exchange and comparative perspectives between the Philippines and Malaysia. Both institutions emphasized the value of COIL in delivering globally relevant, technology-enabled education, with students expected to enhance their knowledge of international marketing alongside cross-cultural communication, teamwork, and analytical skills. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to academic innovation, internationalization, and sustained collaboration in business education.

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐂𝐎𝐈𝐋) 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬.

Northwestern University’s College of Business Education and Sanjivani University’s School of Commerce and Management conducted an initial virtual meeting to plan a COIL program scheduled for June to July 2026, expected to engage 40 to 60 students from both institutions. The discussion focused on program design, learning outcomes, activities, and implementation arrangements for an online academic exchange that integrates collaborative tasks, intercultural engagement, and foundational training in business analytics. The initiative aims to strengthen students’ competencies in data-driven decision-making, analytics tools, and cross-cultural communication while advancing both universities’ commitment to internationalization and technology-enabled education.

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐈𝐧𝐜. 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐌𝐎𝐔) 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 28, 2026.

The signing marks a shared commitment to advancing academic collaboration, research initiatives, and global mobility for students and faculty across both institutions.

Prof. Eric S. Parilla, as Vice President for Research, Community, Social Development, and Internationalization, helped steer the partnership’s direction by promoting collaborative research, community engagement, and internationalization efforts. A key contribution came from Prof. Eric S. Parilla, who proposed the development of a four- to six-week Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) course focused on business analytics. His initiative underscores a practical pathway for immediate academic exchange, leveraging digital platforms to connect students across borders and foster applied, cross-cultural learning experiences.

Meanwhile, Atty. Ferdinand S. Nicolas, as University President, led the institutional commitment to the agreement, reinforcing Northwestern’s strategic vision for sustained global partnerships and academic excellence.

This milestone sets the foundation for expanded opportunities and stronger academic ties beyond borders.

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐜. (𝐍𝐖𝐔) 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐌𝐎𝐔) 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 21, 2026 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐙𝐨𝐨𝐦.

The newly formalized Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes a strategic collaboration aimed at opening industry pathways for NWU nursing graduates, strengthening their global employability and readiness for international healthcare standards.

Prof. Eric S. Parilla, NWU Vice President for Research, Community, Social Development and Internationalization, emphasized that the partnership is anchored on creating concrete job opportunities for graduates, ensuring that their skills are aligned with global healthcare demands.

Meanwhile, NWU President Atty. Ferdinand S. Nicolas highlighted that the collaboration marks a significant step forward in the university’s internationalization efforts. He underscored that the partnership will help equip future healthcare professionals with competent skills and quality service orientation, ultimately benefiting patients worldwide. He also expressed the university’s gratitude to Thayer International Healthcare Solutions for its trust and commitment.

Mr. Peter Thayer, Managing Director of Thayer International Healthcare Solutions, shared his enthusiasm in entering the partnership, expressing optimism for a fruitful collaboration. He also noted that the initiative is expected to open more academic, research, and industry linkages for NWU on the global stage.

This milestone signals NWU’s continued drive toward international excellence—bridging education, industry, and global healthcare standards to shape world-class Filipino professionals.

Northwestern University to Hold Seminar on Enhancing Research Productivity Through ChatGPT

Northwestern University will hold a faculty development seminar titled “Enhancing Research Productivity Through ChatGPT: Tools, Techniques, and Ethical Applications for Faculty Researchers” on April 20, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the International House Function Hall, Northwestern University.

The event will bring together faculty researchers and academic professionals for a full-day learning session designed to strengthen research capability through the responsible and strategic use of artificial intelligence tools, particularly ChatGPT. It will feature lectures, workshops, and an open question-and-answer session that will provide participants with practical knowledge on how AI can support the research process while maintaining academic integrity and ethical standards.

Serving as the featured speaker will be Dr. Kyra Sin Kit Yeng, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for BSc (Hons) Business Management at the Department of Management, Sunway Business School, Malaysia. She will share insights on the effective use of ChatGPT in academic research, focusing on productivity, innovation, and ethical application in higher education.

The seminar will underscore Northwestern University’s continuing commitment to research excellence, faculty development, and international academic collaboration. Through this initiative, the University will empower its faculty researchers with relevant digital competencies that will help them navigate the evolving research landscape with confidence, competence, and responsibility

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐮 𝐀𝐛𝐝𝐮𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐦 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Northwestern University recently convened a collaborative meeting to discuss a proposed regional development project aimed at addressing the growing threat of digital fraud in ASEAN communities. The meeting underscored both institutions’ shared commitment to academic partnership, social responsibility, and inclusive community empowerment through research-based interventions.

The proposed initiative seeks to respond to the rising incidence of transnational cyber-fraud affecting vulnerable sectors in Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. As discussed during the meeting, the project is designed to focus on communities where digital payment systems are expanding rapidly, yet cybersecurity literacy remains uneven. Special attention is given to seniors and women SME owners, two groups identified as highly vulnerable to investment scams, e-commerce fraud, and other forms of digital deception.

During the discussions, the partner institutions highlighted the urgent need for a culturally responsive and evidence-based educational framework that can translate complex cybersecurity concepts into practical community knowledge. The proposed project aims to train vulnerable individuals through localized workshops while also producing a standardized ASEAN-inclusive scam prevention framework that can be adopted by other institutions, NGOs, and policy stakeholders across the region.

The meeting also emphasized the value of a university-to-community model, wherein higher education institutions serve not only as centers of instruction and research, but also as active agents of social transformation. Under the proposal, regional workshops will be conducted to equip participants with practical scam defense skills, including fraud detection, secure digital payment practices, and mobile safety measures. These activities are expected to generate measurable improvements in participants’ awareness, confidence, and protective behaviors in navigating digital platforms.

Beyond the direct training component, both universities recognized the long-term significance of the project in strengthening regional resilience, protecting household livelihoods, and contributing evidence to digital consumer protection policy in ASEAN. The collaboration likewise reflects the broader internationalization thrust of Northwestern University and UTAR, demonstrating how cross-border academic partnerships can address urgent social and economic challenges facing Southeast Asian communities today.

If pursued, the project is expected to culminate in the publication and dissemination of an open-access training framework, accompanied by impact data and advocacy outputs through university websites, social media, and professional networks. Through this initiative, Northwestern University and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman reaffirm their dedication to regional cooperation, community engagement, and the advancement of inclusive digital safety for vulnerable populations across ASEAN.

Happy Birthday to our Vice President for Research, Community, Social Development, and Internationalization, Dr. Eric S. Parilla! 🎂✨️

We are deeply grateful for your tireless commitment and for always going the extra mile in your service to Northwestern University. Thank you for embodying exemplary leadership that continues to inspire your fellow employees and the next generation of leaders. We truly cherish you and the vision you bring.

May God continue to bless you with strength, wisdom, and greater success in all that you do, Dr. Eric!

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ✈️🌏

The Outbound Education and Internships (OBEI), in partnership with Saigon Business School, Vietnam, conducted an orientation for Culinary Arts and Hospitality and Tourism Management students on April 6, 2026, at the IH Conference Hall.

Together with their parents, students learned about international internship opportunities that enhance global competencies, cultural exposure, and industry readiness.

This initiative reflects Northwestern University’s commitment to global collaboration and developing globally competitive, industry-ready graduates.

Happy Birthday to our very own OIC for the NWU Internationalization Office, Mr. Mark Dio F. Palcon! 🎉

Sir Dio, thank you for your kindness, steady leadership, and for always empowering those around you. You lead by example and consistently go above and beyond in everything you do. We truly appreciate your guidance and the positive impact you bring to the team.

We’re grateful to be learning from you and working alongside you. Wishing you all the best in the year ahead. God bless you, Sir!