From March 15 to April 15, 2026, students from the University of Baguio’s School of Criminal Justice and Public Safety (SCJPS) embarked on a mission to expand their cultural awareness and affiliations through a designated international mobility engagement with its partnered institution, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University (HCU), Thailand.
Part of the academic mobility program of the university, the institution’s ongoing dedication to internationalization and worldwide academic engagement is further demonstrated by the student interns it offers overseas through its academic mobility programs. The program sought to develop globally competent students with both theoretical knowledge and practical abilities pertinent to their respective fields through an organized blend of academic instruction, laboratory training, and applied learning experiences.
Facilitated and led by SCJPS Dean Dr. Charesma Grace K. Lud-ayen, with Mr. Justin Joseph Almarvez as the designated accompanying faculty, the month-long internship in Thailand opened opportunities to the esteemed outbound students through rigorous and practical application training under the parameters of technical competencies and cultivation of intercultural understanding in prospective fields of forensic science, criminal justice, disaster management, and related disciplines.
UB’s SCJPS Reach Top Learning Experiences in Thailand
Through a structured combination of academic instruction, laboratory training, and applied learning experiences, the program aimed to produce globally competent students equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills relevant to their professional fields. This included specialized training modules in forensic entomology, cadaveric studies, disaster management, and cybersecurity areas that are critical in advancing contemporary practices in forensic science and criminal justice.
Subsequently, the interns participated in a comprehensive institutional orientation at the HCU Main Campus, facilitated by Dr. Jonathan Rante Carreon. The session provided an in-depth overview of the university’s history, organizational structure, and academic framework, emphasizing its commitment to innovative and student-centered teaching approaches such as problem-based learning, hybrid instruction, and experiential education.
During their four-week internship, the SCJPS student interns participated in a rigorously designed and diversified curriculum that included academic lectures, laboratory activities, practical simulations, and cultural immersion programs. The academic component covered a wide range of specialized areas important to forensic science and criminal justice, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), DNA analysis via polymerase chain reaction (PCR), forensic pathology, forensic anthropology, forensic entomology, cybercrime and digital forensics law, disaster management, and emergency medical services.
Alt Text: Student Delegates from the University of Baguio SCJPS program (criminology and forensic science) achieving world-class techniques and intercultural education during their immersion at HCU, Thailand
Including forensic biology (particularly in DNA analysis and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques); forensic pathology (with an emphasis on medico-legal death investigation and the determination of cause and manner of death); forensic anthropology (focusing on human identification through skeletal analysis); and criminalistics (particularly in evidence recognition, collection, preservation, and laboratory examination procedures). Furthermore, the curriculum expanded students’ knowledge of cybercrime and digital forensics law by introducing them to current legal frameworks, investigative methodologies, and developing difficulties in the digital realm.
Beyond these fundamental forensic disciplines, disaster risk management and emergency response training expanded students’ competencies by providing them with critical skills in crisis management, mass casualty incident response, and emergency medical procedures. These were reinforced through immersive simulations, scenario-based exercises, and field-based training that emulated real-world operational conditions.
By combining academic underpinnings with hands-on experience, the curriculum helped students develop higher-order analytical thinking, technical expertise, and investigative skills. Furthermore, it honed adaptability, problem-solving skills, and professional judgment, all of which are essential in dynamic, high-stakes forensic and criminal justice environments. Overall, the experience enhanced academic learning while also preparing SCJPS outbound delegates to become internationally competitive, practice-ready professionals capable of efficiently responding to the field’s changing demands.
The program showcases the connectedness of students to their craft and determination under the selected programs, as shown through metrics that coincide with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which aim to highlight the internationalization framework mandated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED):
SDG 4: Quality Education
- by promoting inclusive, accessible, and globally competitive learning opportunities that extend beyond traditional classroom instruction, enabling students to engage in experiential, interdisciplinary, and international learning for effective academic engagement
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- by strengthening student competencies in forensic investigation, legal frameworks, and evidence-based practices, essential components in the pursuit of justice, the rule of law, and effective criminal justice systems
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
- through sustained and meaningful collaboration between the University of Baguio and Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, exemplifying the value of international academic cooperation in advancing shared educational and institutional objectives
The program not only enriched the academic and professional development of participating SCJPS students but also reinforced the institution’s commitment to producing globally competitive graduates. Collectively, these contributions support the formation of competent, ethical, and globally aware professionals equipped to address contemporary challenges in criminology and forensic science.
Overall, the global academic mobility program achieved its objectives of strengthening global competencies, developing institutional links, and providing high-impact experiential learning opportunities. Based on the Commission on Higher Education’s internationalization framework, the program not only helped participating students progress academically and professionally but also bolstered the institution’s commitment to producing globally competitive graduates.
