INDONESIA (June 22-25, 2026) – 5th Times Higher Education Global Sustainable Congress (GSDC) 2026.

Leyte Normal University (LNU) strengthened its international presence after participating in the 5th Times Higher Education (THE) Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026 held from June 22 to 25 in Jakarta and Bandung, Indonesia.

Led by University President Dr. Gil Nicetas B. Villarino, the LNU delegation engaged with global higher education leaders, policymakers, and international organizations to forge strategic collaborations aligned with the University’s internationalization agenda and commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Throughout the four-day congress, LNU established and advanced partnership discussions with universities across Asia and North America. Among the key developments were the planned renewal of its memorandum of understanding with Binus University in Indonesia, expanded student and faculty mobility initiatives with Phenikaa University in Vietnam, a proposed visiting professor exchange with Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), and opportunities for research collaboration with TIIAME National Research University in Uzbekistan.

On the sidelines of the congress, Dr. Villarino also paid an official visit to the Philippine Embassy in Indonesia, where he participated in a high-level briefing on cross-border education and explored opportunities to strengthen academic cooperation and international engagement between Philippine higher education institutions and global partners.

The University also explored opportunities for free virtual Korean language learning for its students through Kyung Hee University in South Korea and received an invitation from York University in Canada to participate in the international PEARL curriculum project under the International Network of Teacher Education Institutions (INTEI).

LNU likewise celebrated a significant milestone during the congress after advancing to the 401–600 bracket of the THE Impact Rankings 2026, reflecting the University’s growing global recognition for its contributions to sustainable development.

The congress concluded with high-level consultations with THE officials, where LNU explored strategies to further strengthen its international engagement, sustainability reporting, and global competitiveness, reinforcing the University’s commitment to building meaningful international partnerships that create greater opportunities for its students, faculty, and academic community.

Published by: Rico Combinido | IT Support Office