Officials from Philippine Normal University North Luzon (PNUNL) recently completed a strategic visit to Thailand on April 20 to 27, 2025, to strengthen international research and extension collaborations with Chiang Mai University (CMU) and Shinawatra University (SIU). At Chiang Mai University, the PNUNL team visited the Center for Ethnic Studies and Development (CESD). Activities included a field visit to the Karen indigenous community to explore community-based education practices and cultural preservation efforts, as well as a comparative analysis of research and extension practices between the two institutions. Discussions were also held regarding the organization of an International Research Conference on Teacher Education and Indigenous Peoples Education, with CMU being eyed as a co-host in 2026.

The PNUNL delegation then proceeded to Shinawatra University, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was formally signed to establish a framework for future collaboration. Among the initial projects agreed upon is an international extension program focusing on enhancing English language proficiency among Thai teachers, aimed at supporting educational quality and capacity building. Dr. Agnes S. Reyes, PNUNL Executive Director and Provost, emphasized the importance of these new partnerships, describing them as a significant step toward advancing PNUNL’s internationalization efforts and expanding its contributions to research, teacher education, and community development across the region.

The International Research Conference, set to be co-organized by PNUNL, CMU, and SIU, is scheduled to take place in Thailand. Chiang Mai University, Thailand’s first provincial university, is officially recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation and ranked #567 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. Shinawatra University, a private institution under Thailand’s higher education framework, is ranked within the 151–200 range globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Both universities are officially recognized by the Ministry of Education of Thailand, further underscoring the strength of PNUNL’s new international alliances.

PNU North Luzon, situated in Alicia, Isabela, is the Indigenous Peoples Education Hub of the university. It is recognized by the Teacher Education Council as a Center of Excellence (COE) in Teacher Education and is a recipient of the Excellence in Quality Assurance in Teacher Education (EQUATE) award from the Commission on Higher Education.