CEBU CITY, Philippines — October 1, 2026 — Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. (HCCCI) participated in the Higher Education Partnerships Conference (HEPCON) 2026, held on October 1–2 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City, through School President Marivet S. Caballero and Academic Director Dr. Erwin M. Faller, RPh.

The two-day conference brought together higher education leaders, academic administrators, institutional representatives, and other stakeholders to discuss emerging developments in higher education, exchange institutional perspectives, and explore opportunities for academic and organizational collaboration. The gathering provided a venue for participating institutions to engage in discussions on partnership development, educational innovation, and institutional growth.

During the conference, President Caballero and Dr. Faller engaged with higher education leaders and stakeholders, including Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Their participation provided an opportunity for HCCCI to connect with key figures in the Philippine higher education sector, exchange perspectives on current higher education priorities, and explore areas of cooperation that may complement the institution’s continuing development.

HEPCON 2026 featured keynote addresses, presentations, panel discussions, and institutional sessions focused on current directions and opportunities in higher education. The conference also created spaces for participating institutions to establish professional connections, discuss potential partnerships, and identify areas of mutual interest that could develop into future academic and institutional initiatives.

For HCCCI, participation in HEPCON is part of its continuing efforts to develop meaningful institutional partnerships. Rather than pursuing partnerships solely for the establishment of formal agreements, HCCCI uses engagements such as HEPCON to understand institutional priorities, identify areas of compatibility, and explore opportunities where collaboration can result in concrete programs, academic activities, knowledge exchange, and opportunities for students and faculty.

The participation also complements HCCCI’s broader internationalization and institutional development initiatives. Engagement with higher education leaders and institutions allows the College to remain connected to emerging practices and developments in the sector while identifying potential partners whose expertise, programs, and institutional priorities may align with HCCCI’s own areas of development.

The conference further provided an opportunity for HCCCI to strengthen professional relationships within the Philippine higher education community. These connections can serve as starting points for future discussions on collaborative academic programs, research, faculty development, student opportunities, institutional capacity-building, and other initiatives that may contribute to shared educational goals.

HCCCI’s participation supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through engagement in educational dialogue, knowledge exchange, and institutional development; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, through the exchange of innovative practices and approaches in higher education; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, through potential institutional initiatives that may contribute to community development; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through the development of relationships and collaborative opportunities among higher education institutions and stakeholders.

Beyond the conference sessions, HEPCON provided HCCCI with an opportunity to listen to different perspectives, understand current priorities within Philippine higher education, and identify opportunities for cooperation. Such engagements contribute to a more informed approach to partnership development, allowing institutional relationships to move from initial conversations toward areas of shared interest and, where appropriate, more sustained collaboration.

Through its participation in HEPCON 2026, HCCCI continues to engage actively with the higher education community and explore partnerships that can contribute to institutional development and create meaningful opportunities for its students, faculty, and academic community. The participation of the School President and Academic Director reflects HCCCI’s continuing commitment to building relationships grounded in shared interests, institutional compatibility, and purposeful cooperation.