The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the University of the Philippines – Open University (UPOU) collaborated to launch this First Philippine Higher Education Internationalization Award to recognize the efforts of institutions of higher learning to implement internationalization initiatives that are innovative, creative, inclusive, and sustainable.

CLSU’s entry, the “International Filipino Language and Culture Program” exposes and immerses the foreign students enrolled for a degree, international exchange students, and/or visitors to the experiences inherent to learning the Filipino language and culture not only in the classroom but in the community as well.

CLSU gives importance to international linkages as it strives to keep up with globalization and excellent standards. And so, this program creates a network of Filipinos in the Philippines, particularly the CLSU community and its international clients to stay connected and continue to exchange resources. More so, through the internationalization initiatives of the university, it prepares its stakeholders to become global citizens with a purpose, highlighting even more its vision to become a “world-class national university”.

CLSU President, Dr. Edgar A. Orden, in his acceptance speech recognized the concerted efforts of the CLSU community in bringing the university in the forefront of establishing linkages and partnerships around the globe, and that CLSU is one with the CHED in realizing internationalization initiatives.