As part of its role as the National Center for Teacher Education, the Philippine Normal University co-organized two internationalization and extension engagements with its partner local colleges. Highlighting these endeavors is the significant involvement of PNU’s current visiting professors.

PNU brought global perspectives to the City College of San Fernando, Pampanga (CCSFP) through a professional sharing session of Dr. Mekasha Kassaye Gobaw, a visiting professor from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. The event fostered rich discussions on global education systems as Dr. Gobaw presented a comparative analysis of the Ethiopian education system and the Philippine local university context. He highlighted structural, cultural, and pedagogical similarities and differences between the two countries, offering CCSFP education students and officials a broader understanding of international frameworks in teaching and learning. The session underscored the value of cross-cultural exchange in developing inclusive and future-ready teacher education programs.

Meanwhile, in another significant event, the City College of Calamba (CCC) welcomed Dr. Adrian Rodgers, another visiting professor from The Ohio State University, for a scholarly engagement aligned with CCC’s ongoing partnership with PNU. Held in the historic city of Calamba, the hometown of Dr. Jose Rizal, the session was themed “Using Backward Design as a Tool to Support Empowerment.” Dr. Rodgers, a respected expert in curriculum and instruction, provided a practical and thought-provoking discussion on designing intentional, learner-centered curricula. His talk emphasized how aligning educational outcomes with meaningful learning experiences can lead to empowered educators and students.

Both extension activities exemplify PNU’s mission to strengthen partnerships with local institutions, providing platforms for global dialogue and knowledge sharing.