By: Gina L. Casi, RN, PhD & Jessie D. Dela Cruz, LPT
Baguio Central University (BCU) participated in the 2025 World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI) Global Conference, held from September 24 to 26, 2025, at Tongmyong University in Busan, South Korea. The international gathering brought together university leaders, faculty members, and higher education experts to discuss innovative approaches to university management, educational development, and societal impact. BCU’s participation provided an opportunity to present its institutional initiatives in an international academic setting and engage with global discussions on innovation, sustainability, and the evolving role of universities in addressing societal needs.
The BCU delegation was led by University President Dr. Margarita Cecilda B. Rillera and included Dr. Elma D. Donaal, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Ms. Amalia F. Anacheta, CPA, Vice President for Finance; Dr. Genevieve B. Kupang, Dean of the Graduate School, Internationalization Relations Officer, and WURI Historian; Dr. Gina L. Casi, Dean of the College of Nursing and School of Midwifery; Mr. Karl Matthieu B. Rillera, Marketing Officer; and Dr. Michael T. Sebullen, Director for Research. The participation of university leadership and representatives from academic, financial, research, internationalization, and marketing functions reflected the institution’s multidisciplinary approach to engaging with developments in higher education.
BCU’s participation was accompanied by reported results in the 2025 WURI rankings. According to the university’s announcement, BCU placed 302nd worldwide in the ranking category associated with universities demonstrating community impact through innovation. The university also received category placements, including 12th in Culture and Values, led by Dr. Kupang; 21st in Empowerment-Based Management, led by Dr. Casi; and 47th in Funding for Sustainability, led by Dr. Sebullen. In addition, BCU was listed within the 301–350 bracket of the WURI Global Top 400 Innovative Universities. These reported placements provide institutional context for BCU’s participation in the conference and its engagement with approaches to innovation, organizational development, and sustainability in higher education. They should be understood as reported WURI results rather than evidence that conference participation itself caused an improvement in ranking.
The conference served as an international platform for exchanging perspectives on institutional innovation and strengthening potential connections with universities and higher education stakeholders. BCU’s delegation brought together leaders responsible for academic affairs, finance, research, internationalization, and college-level education, positioning the university to engage with a broad range of institutional development discussions. Although specific agreements, new partnerships, or joint projects resulting directly from the conference were not identified in the available information, participation established BCU’s presence at an international higher education event and created opportunities for continued engagement with global academic networks.
BCU’s involvement aligns primarily with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) through its engagement with international discussions on educational innovation and institutional development. It also relates to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) through its emphasis on innovative approaches in higher education, SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through participation in a global forum that facilitates academic exchange, and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) through its relevance to institutional values, management practices, and organizational development. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) is additionally relevant to discussions of sustainable university management and institutional capacity, although specific employment or economic outcomes from the conference were not reported. Through its participation in the 2025 WURI Global Conference, BCU demonstrated its engagement with international higher education developments and its stated commitment to innovation, sustainability, and societal impact