BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
IN continuing its streak of global recognition, Ifugao State University (IFSU) has participated in the three-day Kuminwani Flair 2.0 Masterclass dubbed “Cordillera’s Fierce Leaders Achieving International Recognition.”
Held at the Cordillera Career Development Center in La Trinidad, Benguet from Aug. 2 to 4, 2023, the Kuminwani Flair 2.0 Masterclass is organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
According to Richard Baliao, IFSU Department of Communication, Public and International Affairs director, this Kuminwani Masterclass is the second of its kind, following the inaugural event held last year.
He said the Kuminwani Masterclass has attracted a record number of participants this year with over 130 people attending compared to only 80 participants last year.
“Kuminwani” is an Ifugao term which means “most skillful, the chosen one, the right one, or well-prepared.”
Baliao also explained that the Flair which means Filipino Leaders in Advancing International Reputation Masterclass helped fuel the recognition of several higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Cordillera region on the international stage.
For IFSU, he said it was ranked 101-200 Global Top Innovative Universities by the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) in 2023, with a 35th place ranking in Fourth Industrial Revolution and a 42nd place ranking in Ethical Value.
Faith Belingon Napudo, IFSU information officer, also noted that in this year’s masterclass, the HEIs that are participating are gaining a comprehensive understanding of the processes and methodologies used in Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Times Higher Education (THE) and WURI rankings.
QS, THE and WURI are three international rankings that are acknowledged by the CHEd under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11448 or the Transnational Higher Education Act.
Napudo said the HEIs are learning strategies for enhancing research publications and citations, which is one of the main weaknesses of HEIs in international rankings.
“This masterclass is helping HEIs to bolster their home internationalization efforts by establishing and nurturing local and international linkages,” she said.
The participants also develop a forward-thinking institutional perspective regarding internationalization and its implications for the future of their institutions, Napudo added.
In his message during the event, Dr. Demetrio Anduyan Jr., CHEd-CAR director, inspired the participating HEIs in the Cordillera to showcase the beauty of the region to the world and to transcend its boundaries.
“The journey to realizing international recognition may be rigorous, but it is ultimately a rewarding one,” Anduyan said while referring to challenges as “happy problems.”
During the event, speakers included experts from HEIs in the Cordillera who have fared well in international ranking bodies in previous years.
Also sharing their experiences and strategies in research publication in reputable journals were renowned, published and highly cited researchers.
Napudo said these reputable journals are critical in gaining points in global ranking organizations.