Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. (HCCCI) has taken a meaningful step in expanding its international partnerships by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Uppsala University in Sweden, one of Europe’s most respected institutions of higher learning. While this is an early stage in collaboration, it already represents a big opportunity for HCCCI students and faculty back home in Mindanao, as the school works to connect its community with the broader world of higher education. The signing took place after HCCCI’s participation at the European Association for International Education (EAIE) 2025 Conference, where leaders from both institutions explored ways to share practices and create pathways for academic cooperation.

Representing HCCCI at the signing were Executive Vice President, Vanessa Marie L. Antiquin, MMEM, and Academic Director, Erwin M. Faller, PhD. The ceremony was also witnessed by Ma. Luisa F. Roque, Cultural Officer and Attache of the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Sweden, and Regina Queenie Perol, Admin Officer, who both expressed strong support for the growing international linkages that aim to benefit Filipino learners.

Uppsala University is widely recognized for its dedication to sustainable development, quality assurance, academic integrity, and innovative teaching. Its initiatives, such as the Baltic University Programme, promote quality education across borders and align with the global call for sustainability under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The university’s commitment to academic integrity through transparent procedures, its celebration of teaching innovations at events like the ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Conference, and its integration of Education for Sustainable Development reflect practices that HCCCI aspires to learn from and adapt to its own context.

For HCCCI, this MOU is more than a formal document. It represents the beginning of shared learning, collaborative projects, and the promise of creating new opportunities for students who may not otherwise have access to global academic networks. By embracing partnerships like this, the school continues its mission of bringing the world into the classroom while also nurturing the heritage and identity of the communities it serves.

This collaboration is closely aligned with several SDGs, particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). As HCCCI takes this step forward, it reaffirms its vision of making education both inclusive and globally relevant—building bridges not only between institutions but also between cultures, values, and generations.