RMC Launches RizalLink: Connecting Global Expertise with Rizalian Minds

𝗥𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘀, 𝗜𝗻𝗰. (𝗥𝗠𝗖), 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 (𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗢), officially launched RizalLink – International Visiting Professors Series, a new flagship internationalization program designed to connect the Rizalian academic community with visiting international professors, scholars, and academic partners from across the globe.

Held on September 9, 2026, at the RMC LaLiga Hall, the launching marked another significant step in strengthening RMC’s internationalization initiatives and expanding opportunities for international academic engagement within the institution. RizalLink provides a platform where international experts can share specialized knowledge, research perspectives, professional experiences, and global practices with RMC students, faculty members, and academic leaders.

The program commenced with a Welcome Message from RMC School President, Dr. Evelyn A. Magno, who emphasized the institution’s ongoing commitment to academic growth, innovation, and meaningful institutional partnerships. This was followed by an Inspirational Message from Mr. Lorenzo Raphael L. Magno, Vice President for Administration and Finance, which was delivered by Dr. Gel Maria Tiboron.

Prof. Antonio A. Solomon Jr., Director for Internationalization Affairs and Linkages, formally introduced RizalLink and presented its purpose and direction. The initiative seeks to establish a sustainable institutional mechanism for bringing international academic expertise closer to the Rizalian community while strengthening RMC’s implementation and documentation of internationalization activities.

The inaugural RizalLink featured three visiting professors from India, bringing international and interdisciplinary perspectives to the Rizalian academic community.

Dr. Tapas Pal discussed “Street Economy and Contributions in SDGs: Case Study on Gig Economy and Bengali’s Jhalmuri,” providing perspectives on informal and gig economies and their relationship with sustainable development.

Dr. Sukanta Das presented “GeoAI and the Future,” introducing participants to the emerging intersection of geospatial technologies and artificial intelligence and their implications for research, planning, and innovation.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tanay Pandit delivered “10-Year Change of Davao Region: A View Through Google Earth,” demonstrating how geospatial technologies can be used to understand and visualize changes occurring across the Davao Region over time.

Through these multidisciplinary discussions, RizalLink demonstrated its central purpose: to bring international knowledge closer to the Rizalian community and create meaningful opportunities for students, faculty members, and academic leaders to engage with perspectives beyond geographical and disciplinary boundaries.

The activity concluded with the Closing Remarks of Dr. Gel Marie B. Tiboron, OIC-Vice President for Academic Affairs, reinforcing the importance of sustained academic engagement, institutional collaboration, and internationalization in advancing RMC’s educational mission.

The successful launching of RizalLink was made possible through the collective support of the RMC Administration and its academic community. The Office of Internationalization Affairs and Linkages expresses its profound gratitude to Rizal Memorial Colleges, Inc. for providing the institutional support, resources, venue, coordination, and opportunities necessary to transform RizalLink from an envisioned internationalization initiative into an actual academic engagement for the Rizalian community.

Special gratitude is extended to Dr. Evelyn A. Magno, School President; Mr. Lorenzo Raphael L. Magno, Vice President for Administration and Finance; and Dr. Gel Marie B. Tiboron, OIC-Vice President for Academic Affairs, whose support and encouragement helped make the implementation of the program possible.

The Office likewise gratefully acknowledges the support of RMC’s academic deans: Dr. Agnes P. Mascariñas, Dean of the College of Teacher Education; Dr. Annbeth B. Calla, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Janine Sato-Betonio, Dean of the College of Business Administration; Prof. Julito Ladion, Program Head of the College of Criminal Justice Education; Dr. Teresita B. Bayaron, Dean of the College of Agriculture; and Atty. Dante O. Calamba, Dean of the Graduate School. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the Directors and Heads whose support and participation helped broaden the opportunity for international academic engagement across the various disciplines and academic communities of RMC.

Their collective involvement reflects the institution’s recognition that internationalization is a shared commitment—one that becomes more meaningful when administrators, academic leaders, faculty members, students, and institutional offices work together toward a common direction.

RMC also extends its sincere appreciation to the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) for its valuable collaboration and support in making the inaugural RizalLink possible.

In particular, special recognition is given to 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗜𝗜, 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗜𝗖, for his invaluable support, coordination, and assistance in connecting RMC with the international visiting professors. His support became instrumental in translating the collaborative opportunity into a meaningful academic experience for the Rizalian community.

The partnership demonstrates the value of inter-institutional collaboration in advancing internationalization. By sharing opportunities, networks, and academic expertise, higher education institutions can broaden the reach and impact of international engagement and make global learning opportunities more accessible to their respective academic communities.

RMC is especially grateful to UIC for extending this opportunity and for contributing to the successful realization of the first RizalLink International Visiting Professors Series.

More than a one-time academic engagement, RizalLink is envisioned as a continuing flagship program of the Office of Internationalization Affairs and Linkages. The series provides an institutional platform for visiting professors, international scholars, and academic partners to conduct lectures, academic conversations, knowledge-sharing sessions, and other collaborative engagements with the RMC community.

The program also strengthens the documentation of RMC’s internationalization initiatives in support of institutional development and relevant Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reporting and survey requirements. Future RizalLink engagements will remain subject to institutional coordination and approval to ensure their alignment with RMC’s academic priorities and internationalization direction.

The Office of Internationalization Affairs and Linkages also acknowledges the directors, heads, faculty members, staff, students, and members of the Rizalian community whose presence, participation, coordination, and assistance contributed to the success of the activity.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹, the Office expresses its deepest gratitude to Rizal Memorial Colleges, Inc. for believing in and supporting initiatives that bring international opportunities closer to its academic community. The successful launching of RizalLink was made possible through the collective commitment of an institution willing to open more doors for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and international academic engagement.

With RizalLink, RMC continues to create spaces where international expertise meets Rizalian minds—strengthening academic exchange, cultivating global perspectives, and building meaningful connections as the institution advances its internationalization journey.

𝐑𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐥𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬.

𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝗗𝗲𝗼 𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮!