Philippine Higher Education Research Consortium- PHERC

𝗜𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗙 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: Mission accomplished!

Two phenomenal days of innovation, insight, and inspiration have drawn to a close. Thank you to our amazing community for bringing incredible energy and superb expertise.

𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝟭 & 𝟮 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗙 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: A wrap! Two days of dynamic discussions, innovative ideas, and meaningful connections across multiple tracks. Thank you to all speakers, moderators, and participants who made these sessions truly impactful.

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞: PHERC President Rodante G. Flores shares an update on the organization’s achievements and plans for what’s ahead.

“Every effort of a university should be in the form of innovation.”

“The best future is the future that we create. So we decided to create.”

𝗗𝗿. 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗼
Chairperson, World University Rankings for Innovations

"By sharing knowledge, embracing innovation, and nurturing partnerships, we are shaping a higher education ecosystem that is not only globally engaged, but locally grounded and socially responsible."

𝗛𝗼𝗻. 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗖. 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝘂𝗽𝗶𝘀, 𝗣𝗵.𝗗.
Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education

"I selected the Philippines as the first country for the launch of ISTA software, you know why?

There are beautiful stories, sad stories, and some very surprising stories. As you know, from 1950 to 1953, there was a Korean War. After the Korean War took place, 16 countries from around the world came to Korea to help, to fight against the communists. One of those countries was the Philippines. More than 500 young people died in Korea. We never forget that kind of help in our difficult situation. That’s why we decided to offer this in the Philippines, first in the world, to help students and professors."

𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗶𝗺 𝗞𝘆𝘂𝗻𝗴-𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗴
Dean, AI Seoul School of Integrated Sciences and Technologies (aSSIST)

𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗜𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗙 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲

The 8th International Higher Education Research Forum (IHERF) 2025 launched with an inspiring opening ceremony that united global leaders, educators, and researchers around a shared mission: “Innovative Research and Digital Transformation: Advancing Global Higher Education for Sustainable Development.”

The ceremony opened with meaningful cultural performances and traditional protocols that honored both heritage and progress, creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and forward-thinking collaboration.

Throughout the program, distinguished speakers delivered compelling messages about the transformative power of innovation, the necessity of cross-border partnerships, and the critical balance between global engagement and local relevance.
Their addresses emphasized a common thread: that sustainable development in higher education requires institutions to be both digitally progressive and deeply committed to serving their communities with purpose and integrity.

As participants look ahead to the forum’s plenary sessions and parallel discussions, the opening ceremony has successfully established IHERF 2025 as more than just a conference—it’s a catalytic space where diverse perspectives converge, innovative solutions emerge, and meaningful relationships form.

The energy and optimism in the room signal that this gathering will make genuine contributions toward reimagining higher education for an increasingly interconnected world.

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 (𝗜𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗙 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱)!

Today, we gathered for the Memorandum of Understanding Signing and Institutional Membership Awarding Ceremony, a moment that signifies our shared commitment to strengthening collaboration and advancing research excellence in Philippine higher education.

We are honored to welcome our participating institutions:
- Technological University of the Philippines – Cavite (Active Status)
- Catbalogan City Community College - (New Member)
- University of Perpetual Help System–DALTA School of Aviation (New Member)
-Tarlac State University (MOU Reviewed)
- Technological University of the Philippines – Taguig (Ongoing Application)
- City College of Calapan (Ongoing Application)

This ceremony formalizes our partnership, reinforces our dedication to capacity-building and collaborative research initiatives, and recognizes the unwavering commitment of each member institution to PHERC’s vision of a globally responsive and sustainable higher education community.

"And it just grew me on how powerful this technology is. And it's not just about that I'm able to do a lot of this work. I also learned and became competent in areas where I previously had no training."

𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵 𝗛. 𝗕𝗮𝗲𝗸
Founder & CEO, Techedify

"As we gather, may these new collaborations, these properties, and innovations move our discussions beyond theory into practice, beyond institutions into communities, toward a future that is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable."

𝗠𝗮. 𝗘𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗠. 𝗬𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗰𝗼, 𝗣𝗵.𝗗.
Co-Chair, IHERF 2025
President, Rizal Technological University

"In this moment, we stand not as participants, but as weavers of the future, teaching the nation based on research, residing stability with compassion, and weaving innovation into the fibre of a more hopeful world for everyone."

𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗿. 𝗥𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗼 𝗣. 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘀, 𝗣𝗵𝗗., 𝗘𝗻𝗣
Co-Chair, IHERF 2025
President, Technological University of the Philippine