THE POLYTECHNIC University of the Philippines continues to strengthen its global engagement and commitment to inclusive education through the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility Programme in partnership with Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna (UNIBO) in Italy.

This renewed collaboration builds on the success of the Project Formation of Teachers in Challenged Areas in the Philippines, an Erasmus+ initiative supported by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

According to the university, the project established a pioneering master’s program designed to prepare educators to serve in challenged and underserved communities across the country.

Through the Erasmus+ program, PUP and UNIBO aim to enhance student and faculty mobility, fostering cross-cultural understanding, collaborative research, and innovative teaching practices that integrate both local and international perspectives.

For the current academic year, Jason J. Alvarez, a Master of Arts in Education student majoring in Teaching in Challenged Areas, is studying at UNIBO’s Department of Educational Sciences, focusing on inclusive pedagogy and innovation.

Meanwhile, Prof. Ma. Junithesmer D. Rosales, former dean of PUP’s College of Education, completed a faculty mobility stint at UNIBO, where she delivered lectures on multiculturalism, inclusion, and gender—sharing valuable insights from the Philippine education context.

Founded in 1088, the University of Bologna is recognized as the oldest university in the Western world and Italy’s leading institution in education. The PUP–UNIBO partnership advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Quality Education (SDG 4), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).