President Benitez Visits Partner University in the Philippines for Speech and Collaboration

American International College (AIC) President Benitez, DDS, PhD, was warmly received during his recent visit to St. Paul University in the Philippines (SPUP), one of AIC’s international university partners.

Dr. Benitez served as a Plenary speaker at SPUP’s sixth International Interdisciplinary Research Conference, co-hosted by AIC. In his speech titled “Fostering University Relevance Through Research,” Dr. Benitez highlighted the essential function of higher education institutions in advancing knowledge that drives institutional, national, and global development and sustainability.

During the conference, Dr. Benitez engaged with representatives from institutions of higher education in the Philippines, Japan, China, Indonesia, and Singapore. In addition to AIC, other institutions from the United States included delegates from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and the World Council for Curriculum. With participation from more than 300 educators, researchers, practitioners, graduate students, and research enthusiasts, the event offered an array of scholarly dialogues spanning different countries and disciplines.

In addition to his speech, the visit by President Benitez carried out another significant purpose – to begin implementing the recently signed international partnership between AIC and SPUP. The two presidents embarked on the collaborative journey of crafting a proposal to the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) to introduce joint degree programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. These programs focus on business fields encompassing leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing innovations, healthcare administration, and communications. In a more immediate timeframe, AIC will initiate the creation of certifications and micro-credential offerings in the same core areas, including specialized education for those with learning disabilities. This venture will also explore the potential for joint faculty exchanges. These programs, designed to cater to students from Asia and the Middle East, will be presented in a fully online format.