A three-day writeshop held from May 21 to 23, 2025, at Santiago Cove, Ilocos Sur, equipped International Relations Office (IRO) Coordinators with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare submissions for the Times Higher Education (THE) and World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI).
The first day opened with a session on Sustainability and Innovation led by IRO Deputy Director Doreen Allasiw, who emphasized the importance of integrating sustainability frameworks in higher education—setting the tone for the writeshop. This was followed by a session on effective writing for university rankings submissions and the ethical use of AI in academic writing, delivered by University Public Affairs Office (UPAO) Director Jennyline Tabangcura.
On the second day, participants were introduced to the indicators of the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) and Times Higher Education (THE). The coordinators then began drafting submissions for WURI, highlighting the innovative programs of their respective colleges and units. In the afternoon, they worked on their assigned Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and presented their initial outputs, allowing fellow coordinators to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement. These presentations aimed to help identify how each college could contribute to the SDG indicators. The day’s sessions were facilitated by IRO Deputy Director Doreen Allasiw and Office of Quality Assurance and Accreditation (OQAA) Director Joanna Alafag.
The third and final day focused on sharing reflections and insights, allowing participants to synthesize their learnings and exchange feedback. The activity concluded with the awarding of certificates to the speakers and IRO coordinators.//GBPalberas