Caraga State University conducted the first-ever Erasmus Mundus Caravan in the Caraga Region on January 30, 2026, at the Auditorium of the HERO Learning Commons. The event was spearheaded by the Office of Internationalization and Global Engagement (OIGE) headed by Director Glenn Arthur A. Garcia, in partnership with the College of Forestry and Environmental Sciences (CoFES).
Funded by the European Union (EU) Erasmus Mundus Association and supported by the European Higher Education, the initiative was designed to promote international academic mobility and bring postgraduate opportunities closer to the heart of Mindanao. The caravan provided a comprehensive overview of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree (EMJMD) scholarship, offering a practical roadmap for applications and a deep dive into the unique mobility model that allows scholars to study across multiple European countries.
The session brought together a diverse group of 93 participants, including students, faculty, and professionals from various institutions and fields in engineering, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The caravan was graced by the presence of the University President, Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil, and Vice President for Executive Operations, Engr. Michelle V. Japitana and the Dean of CoFES, Dr. Roger T. Sarmiento. EU Ambassador to the Philippines, Massimo Santoro, welcomed the participants via a video message.
Also in attendance are a panel of Erasmus alumni, including a professor from Mindanao State University, Mr. Brian Ven C. Bag-ao, and Ms. Elsa Alcuetas-Jamora, a planning officer from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, who shared their scholarship journey through stories of academic triumph and professional growth.
