Kalinga State University actively participated in the ASEAN Universities Exhibition and Forum (AEF) 2025, held at the Grand Lagoon Ballroom, Sunway Resort Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February 24–25, 2025. This prestigious gathering of higher education institutions across ASEAN aimed to foster collaboration, enhance student mobility, and promote transnational education.

Prior to the forum, each participating HEI in ASEAN set up a booth on February 23, 2025.The forum officially commenced on February 24, 2025, with a morning session featuring key initiatives, including the Student Mobility Program, the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and the launch of the ASEAN Scholarship Platform. In the afternoon, discussions focused on two significant themes: Forum 1, titled “ASEAN Community-Centric Approach,” was co-hosted by Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), while Forum 2, “Advanced TVET: The Future of Talent Readiness in ASEAN,” was co-hosted by Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTEM).

On February 25, 2025, the forum continued with insightful sessions that addressed key educational and workforce challenges in the region. Forum 3, “Leveraging the Abundance of ASEAN Skilled Workforce for Industry 5.0 through TVET,” was co-hosted by German-Malaysia Institute (GMI). This was followed by a roundtable session titled “Bridging Borders: Strengthening ASEAN Higher Education for Connectivity and Global Collaboration,” co-hosted by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Another significant discussion, Forum 4, focused on “Empowering ASEAN Higher Education Common Space through Transnational Higher Education,” and was co-hosted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippines, with KSU as one of its key participating institutions.

Representing Kalinga State University at the forum were Dr. Joy Grace P. Doctor, University President; Dr. Perfelia R. Buen, University and Board Secretary; Dr. Pinky Larcelle L. Ga-ib, Director for Distance Education, Transnational Education, and International Linkages; and Mrs. Ethel Jovy G. Wacas, Coordinator for Transnational Education and International Linkages, who also served as the coach for the KSU student delegation. Accompanying them were three student participants who competed in various contested activities aligned with the forum’s theme.

KSU’s participation in AEF 2025 highlights its commitment to strengthening regional and global academic collaboration. Through engagement in transnational education and knowledge-sharing initiatives, the university continues to expand opportunities for its students and faculty, further positioning itself as an active player in the advancement of higher education in ASEAN.