The Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) cemented its position as a rising force in international academic collaboration after successfully participating in the 6th International Conference on Education, Environment, and Agriculture (ICEEA 2025) at Universitas Warmadewa, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, from September 18-19, 2025.
The landmark participation brought together 24 university representatives who wore multiple hats as conference organizers, research presenters, and international partnership builders, marking a significant milestone in the university’s globalization efforts.
Leading from the Front
Under the leadership of Dr. Ramona Isabel S. Ramirez, who served as Overall Chair of ICEEA 2025, the CBSUA delegation not only attended the conference but also helped shape it. The strategic composition of the team, spanning faculty members from engineering, arts and sciences, education, agriculture, and specialized research centers, ensured comprehensive coverage of all conference functions.
“This wasn’t merely attendance; this was active participation at the highest level,” explained a conference observer, noting how CBSUA members managed critical functions including participant invitations, program coordination, and virtual broadcasting—a testament to the university’s organizational capacity on the international stage.
More Than a Conference: Building Lasting Bridges
The event operationalized the Memorandum of Understanding between CBSUA and Universitas Warmadewa, signed just two months earlier on July 7, 2025. The partnership transcended paper formalities, with both institutions sharing conference management responsibilities—Indonesian partners providing local coordination while CBSUA contributed expertise in conference design and international outreach.
Participants from India, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the Philippines created a vibrant international network, with conversations extending far beyond formal sessions. These connections are already yielding discussions about research collaborations, faculty exchanges, and joint program development initiatives.
Learning Beyond Lecture Halls
The conference’s tour component cleverly merged cultural immersion with professional development. At the Cau Chocolate Factory in Tabanan, participants observed value-added agricultural processing that directly relates to CBSUA’s agricultural economics programs. The botanical tour at The Sila’s Agrotourism in Bedugul demonstrated sustainable agriculture practices that participants can adapt to the Philippine context.
A visit to Ulun Danu Beratan Temple provided unexpected insights into the spiritual and cultural dimensions of environmental stewardship—a reminder that sustainability isn’t merely technical but deeply cultural.
Strategic Investment with Lasting Returns
The conference participation aligns with CBSUA’s strategic vision of becoming globally recognized while maintaining its commitment to local and regional development. The investment—with 21 members traveling on official business and three participating on official time, including one funded by SEARCA—demonstrates institutional commitment to international engagement.
The immediate benefits are already visible: enhanced global visibility, demonstrated research capabilities, and expanded international networks. The long-term implications are even more promising, with potential collaborative research proposals, faculty exchanges, and joint degree programs now within reach.
Looking Forward
As the delegation returned to the Philippines, they brought more than conference certificates and tourist souvenirs. They carried new perspectives on addressing common challenges, connections with researchers across continents, and renewed motivation to advance CBSUA’s mission.
The success of ICEEA 2025 establishes a blueprint for future international initiatives, proving that strategic international partnerships aren’t luxury add-ons but essential tools for institutional excellence and global impact.
For a university rooted in agricultural tradition now reaching toward global horizons, the Bali conference represents both achievement and promise—a demonstration that local expertise, when shared internationally, can contribute to solving global challenges while bringing world-class insights back home.
