On April 27, 2026, the University of Baguio formally received a new delegation of exchange students from Khon Kaen University’s College of Local Administration (KKU-COLA) during a welcome ceremony held at the Centennial Cafe. The awaited arrival of the ten (10) Thailand student delegates, along with Assistant Prof. Dr. Charles Ruangthamsing, marks the fourth (4th) successful inbound cohort under the undeniably present and strong partnership between the two higher education institutions.
The partnership has shown consistent growth through its data-driven history of student mobility. With the first acceptance of KKU-COLA inbound scholars in School Year (SY) 2023-2024, which saw ten (10) student delegates from Thailand hosted and nurtured by the School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (SIHTM), the program has remained a steady fixture of the university’s internationalization efforts and practical implementations.
This was then followed by six (6) students enrolled in the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) in SY 2024-2025. As the current school year, 2025-2026, is regarded as the most active to date, it is divided into two batches:
- An initial group of four (4) Thailand students in STELA, headed by Dean, Dr. Antonio Mangaliag, and coordinated by Political Science Program Chair, Ms. Marianne Basoyang
- And this latest group of 10 Thailand students, hosted by SIHTM, is headed by Dean Jenelyn Magpatoc, coordinated by Tourism Management Program Chair, Ms. Joanna Marie Villavicencio
Expanding Cultural Perspectives Between The Philippines and Thailand
Reflections on the value of cross-cultural ties from the Philippines and Thailand were punctuated by the welcome ceremony, formally opened by Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Janice Kaylyn Lonogan. The proceedings of the event offer a deserved acknowledgement of the deep-seated bond between UB and KKU-COLA. Her remarks underscored a sentiment of gratitude toward Dr. Ruangthamsing for the institution’s continued trust in UB as a second home and hub for academic mobility efforts for its students.
Alt Text: Highlights during the welcome ceremonies for KKU-COLA’s student delegates, along with the guidance and supervision of Assistant Prof. Dr. Charles Ruangthamsing, SIHTM Dean, Ms. Jenelyn Magpatoc, and STELA Dean, Dr. Antonio Mangaliag
The event was then echoed by Ms. Melanie Rulla Saro, Director of the Linkages Office, who noted metrics in which the university has been moving toward a more aggressive phase of the partnership, aiming to expand the horizons of what these two institutions can achieve together. Their one-month itinerary was also meticulously presented by the program chair of tourism management, Ms. Joanna Marie Villavicencio, promising an intensive immersion during their overseas stay.
Adding a personal touch to the welcome, STELA Dean Dr. Antonio Mangaliag reminisced about his own visit to Khon Kaen University back in February 2026. Fondly recalling the flavors and authenticity of Thai cuisine, he expressed his hope that the students would find equal delight and comfort in Filipino dishes during their stay. For Dr. Charles Ruangthamsing, returning to the City of Pines felt like a homecoming, as one of the things he admired was the city’s walkability and unique atmosphere, noting that even his short stays in Baguio have left a lasting impression of comfort and academic inspiration.
The partnership actively advances the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly:
- SDG 4 – Quality Education: providing cross-border academic opportunities and linguistic training
- SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: having a specific focus on sustainable urban development and the preservation of Cordillera indigenous heritage
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: ultimately, this collaboration serves as a vital model for strengthening regional ties and institutional capacity across ASEAN countries
The exchange students from Thailand arrived with clear goals: to excel and sharpen their English proficiency, creating a pairable bond with student buddies, professors, and the community to have a lasting “Pinoy” kinship, along with a deep dive into the local way of life. From studying sustainable urban development to exploring the intricate history of the Cordillera indigenous culture and artifacts, the students are set to experience a curriculum that is as much about the heart as it is about the head.
