BukSU’s Dr. Joy M. Mirasol Inspires at CHED X ASEAN Celebration, Regional Quality Awards 2025

Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, President of Bukidnon State University (BukSU), was invited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region X to deliver an affirmation speech alongside Mindanao State University (MSU-IIT) Chancellor Atty. Alizedney M. Ditucalan during the ASEAN Celebration and Regional Quality Awards 2025 held on August 19, 2025, at the Chali Resort and Conference Center, Cagayan de Oro City.

With the theme “ASEAN 2025: Inclusivity and Sustainability | ASEAN Month: Sama-sama sa Pag-unlad,” the event honored Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Region X for their commitment to academic excellence, quality assurance, and compliance with regulatory standards.

In her address titled “Excellence as a Shared Journey: Advancing Higher Education in Northern Mindanao,” Dr. Mirasol expressed gratitude to CHED Region X for the recognitions bestowed on BukSU. She emphasized that these honors are not solely for the university but for the entire Northern Mindanao community of educators, students, leaders, and partners who share the common vision of education as a transformative force.

Here is the full speech of Dr. Mirasol in context on Excellence as a Shared Journey: Advancing Higher Education in Northern Mindanao:

“Mayaad Ha Aldaw kaninyo alan!

On behalf of Bukidnon State University, I extend my deepest gratitude to the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office X for the recognition received by our institution. To CHED X OIC Regional Director, Dr. Arlita Amapola B. Minguez, all this came as a surprise. We are all surprised by the distinctions that we received today. These recognitions are not just for BukSU, but it is for the entire Northern Mindanao community of educators, students, leaders, and partners who share a common dream: to make education a powerful force for transformation. It is a celebration of our collective commitment, dedication, and shared vision for a brighter future. At the heart of BukSU’s progress lies our Hexa-Helix Smart University Framework, anchored on two core principles: Capability Management and Value Creation. Capability Management ensures we continuously develop talent, optimize resources, and maintain the highest operational standards. Value Creation, on the other hand, directs our priorities, aligns our actions, and unites our efforts toward shared goals. These principles are applied across six interconnected areas that keep BukSU agile, resilient, and future-ready, balancing the need for stability with the drive for innovation.

Because of this framework, BukSU has earned milestones that bring pride to our university and our region. We achieved Institutional Accreditation Level II for the main campus and Level I for the EduHub, received the Philippine Quality Award Level II, ranked 161st out of 1,253 universities in the WURI 2025 Rankings for innovation and societal impact, and placed Top 4 among Philippine institutions in the T-H-E Impact Rankings 2025 within the 801–1000 global bracket for advancing the UN SDGs. These recognitions prove that our framework is not just a vision written on paper, but a living system creating measurable impact locally, nationally, and globally.

More importantly, these honors reflect the everyday but often unseen work of our community. We drive academic innovation to prepare students for the 21st-century workforce, advancing the SDGs through our BULIG framework in our community engagement, and pursuing research excellence to address challenges in education, health, environment, and local development.

This award is a reminder that excellence is truly a shared journey. It belongs to our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners who walk this path with us. It challenges us to remain steadfast, to keep our students at the heart of everything we do, and to ensure that the legacy we leave is one of quality, relevance, and hope for the next generations.

On behalf of Bukidnon State University, thank you for this recognition. May we continue, together, to shape a future where education uplifts every life it touches.”

Madakel ha salamat!

In recognition of this award, BukSU received multiple recognitions during the ASEAN Celebration and Regional Quality Awards 2025, hosted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region X, which reflect its steadfast dedication to academic excellence, innovation, and service in line with the ASEAN vision of inclusivity and sustainability. (Astred Jill A. Catolpos, Head, Presidential Technical Operations)