Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. (HCCCI) and Aksaray University, Turkey, officially marked the beginning of their academic relationship with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the EAIE 2025 Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden. For HCCCI, this is more than just a formal agreement—it represents one of its many first steps toward expanding its presence in Europe and exploring new opportunities that can ultimately benefit its students back home in South Cotabato, Philippines.

The ceremony was represented by Prof. Dr. Ömer Köse for Aksaray University, and by Vanessa Marie L. Antiquin, MMEM, Executive Vice President; Erwin M. Faller, Academic Director; and Roelof van Buren, Europe-based International Relations Officer for HCCCI. The signing was also witnessed by Claude Vivier Le Got, Chairwoman of the Federation for European Education (FEDE).

This partnership lays out potential areas of cooperation, including faculty and student exchanges, joint research, and collaborative teaching initiatives. At this stage, it is important to be transparent: the agreement is still exploratory and will require further discussions, specific arrangements, and resource planning before concrete activities can take place. Yet even in its early form, it reflects a shared commitment to building bridges through education.

Aksaray University is known for its student-focused academic practices, its active participation in Erasmus programs across Europe, and its steady progress toward becoming a “third-generation university” that emphasizes interdisciplinary research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. These strengths offer valuable lessons for HCCCI as it continues to strengthen its own internationalization efforts. In turn, HCCCI brings to the table its unique commitment to inclusive education in Mindanao, particularly its focus on creating opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds, including indigenous communities. Together, the partnership holds the promise of a mutual exchange of knowledge, practices, and perspectives.

For HCCCI, the motivation behind this partnership is deeply student-centered. Every collaboration forged abroad is intended to provide students in the Philippines with access to broader academic and cultural experiences that will give them an edge in today’s interconnected world. International linkages like this one are not pursued for prestige alone, but to give students global leverage and opportunities to learn from different contexts, engage in collaborative research, or experience academic mobility that would otherwise be out of reach. The ultimate goal is to ensure that HCCCI students, despite being based in South Cotabato, can participate in conversations and opportunities on a global scale.

This initiative also resonates with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It directly advances Quality Education (SDG 4) by opening doors to international learning, promotes Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) by equipping students with skills for the global labor market, and supports Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9) through research collaboration. Moreover, it works toward Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) by bringing global exposure to students who might otherwise have limited access, and it aligns with Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) by fostering transparent and responsible international cooperation.

While this MOU is only the beginning, its signing is symbolic of HCCCI’s broader vision. It is a cautious yet hopeful step into Europe, one that shows the institution’s readiness to grow internationally while staying grounded in its mission of service to its students and community. Both HCCCI and Aksaray University look forward to nurturing this partnership in ways that are sustainable, meaningful, and aligned with the long-term goal of building futures through education.