Part of UP’s mandate as the national university under Republic Act 9500, or the University of the Philippines Charter of 2008, is to uphold universal principles while aligning its international activities with the needs of the Filipino people and the pursuit of social progress and transformation.
This directive is pursued through the UP’s internationalization goals.
In UP Diliman (UPD), the Office of International Linkages (OIL) Diliman is tasked with advancing the internationalization of the university through collaborative initiatives and partnerships with institutions abroad. OIL Diliman was created via Executive Order No. PAEP 2016-02 as part of the reorganization of the UPD Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 2016.
One of the flagship initiatives of OIL Diliman is the Lipad-Aral—the UPD International Student Exchange Program. The office facilitates the inbound student exchange program, which provides students from partner institutions abroad with the opportunity to enroll at UPD for one to two semesters while experiencing Filipino culture and engaging with UPD’s diverse academic community. OIL Diliman also handles the outbound international student mobility program.
Data from OIL Diliman showed a steady increase of inbound international exchange students in the last five academic years.
| Inbound International Exchange Students | 1st Semester | 2nd Semester | Total |
| AY 2021-2022 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| AY 2022-2023 | 8 | 22 | 30 |
| AY 2023-2024 | 52 | 41 | 93 |
| AY 2024-2025 | 64 | 58 | 122 |
| AY 2025-2026 | 67 | 57 | 124 |
UPD currently hosts 76 international exchange students, from 10 countries, in the first semester of AY 2026-2027—the highest number accommodated by OIL Diliman since its establishment in 2016.
By welcoming students from partner institutions around the world, UPD fosters cross-cultural understanding and strengthens international academic collaboration. Beyond the classroom, exchange students engage with new communities, experiences, and perspectives that enrich campus life. These programs reflect the university’s commitment to internationalization and to preparing students for an increasingly interconnected world.
In the recent orientation for the international exchange and visiting students for the 1st semester AY 2026-2027, Arthur Juliano Taveira, the first exchange student from Brazil, shared how his experience at UPD and in the Philippines became a life-changing journey of cultural discovery, friendship, and personal growth. “When I first arrived here, I was really shy like most of you (probably are). I thought maybe I will not fit because my culture is totally different. But I realized and learned to embrace differences and build connections with people from different cultures, and actually made a lot of friends.”
To discover new things about UPD and the Philippines, Taveira advised the new exchange students to attend events and activities organized by OIL Diliman. He, however, pointed out that they have to focus and do their best in their studies.
“Enjoy the Philippines, it’s more fun in the Philippines, but remember that you have activities to do, assignments to do, so you don’t have problems in the end of semester. And if you need help, ask your friends, ask the teachers, they are open to it,” Taveira said.
Taveira is now in his second semester as a continuing exchange student at UPD.
According to OIL Diliman, from the moment international students arrive in the Philippines they are welcomed into the UPD community through the Sunduan or the airport pick-up and arrival assistance program. Their introduction to the university and Filipino culture continues through the Pagsalubong, a welcome orientation, and Talastasan, cultural discussion groups that offer meaningful opportunities to learn, connect, and gain a deeper understanding of life in the Philippines.
While sharing and promoting the richness of Filipino culture with inbound international students, UPD also values and embraces the opportunity to learn from the diverse cultures they bring to the university. Through initiatives such as the student-led Kalinangan International Culture Festival, students from different countries come together to share their traditions, experiences, and cultural perspectives.
The cultural exchange extends beyond the campus through the OIL Diliman’s Suroy-Aral, which provides international students with firsthand experiences of Filipino heritage and culture. By bringing students closer to communities and cultural sites, the activity deepens their understanding and appreciation of the Philippines’ diverse cultural traditions, making their exchange more meaningful and immersive.
The journey of international students won’t be complete without a piece of the experience to bring home and share with their loved ones. Through the Pasalubong (recognition and culmination) program, international students are given a meaningful reminder of their time at UPD and in the Philippines, sending them home with cherished memories, stories, and a deeper appreciation of Filipino culture.
Ultimately, UPD’s student exchange program brings people and cultures together, broadens students’ perspectives, builds lasting connections, and strengthens a globally engaged and inclusive community. — with reports from OIL Diliman