Two student leaders from Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) completed a 14-day immersive program at Chandigarh Group of Colleges (CGC) University in Punjab, India, from January 4 to 14, 2026.
Neil Kevin Natabio, Student Representative to the CHMSU Board of Regents, and Lorea Robles, Student Government President of CHMSU Binalbagan Campus joined the Winter School Program 2025 alongside peers from 25 countries.
Accompanying them was University Secretary Mary Leanne Laganhon, who delivered lectures as an adjunct professor while also forging partnerships for future academic exchanges.
CGC University warmly welcome the CHMSUans for the Winter School Program 2025
Neil Kevin Natabio photos
The program convened students from CGC’s multicultural campus, which hosts more than 13,500 learners from 25 countries, creating a vibrant environment for global networking.
The immersion focused on data analytics, digital marketing, and cross-cultural communication. Students worked with industry-standard tools such as Tableau and Microsoft Excel, learning to transform raw data into actionable business insights under the guidance of CGC professors.
Natabio and Robles with fellow students at the 14-day immersion program
Neil Kevin Natabio photos
Beyond the classroom, participants explored Indian culture through city tours of Chandigarh, the traditional Lohri Festival, Bhangra dance classes, and art workshops. Yoga and meditation sessions introduced them to Indian values of balance and mindfulness.
At CGC’s expansive campus, they tackled real-world corporate problems using Tableau and Excel, analyzed consumer psychographics under professors Aman and Saksham, and negotiated mock business deals with classmates from across the globe.
Morning sessions demanded analytical thinking rooted in data-driven decision-making and ethical business practices, while afternoons unfolded into cultural immersion—Chandigarh’s modernist architecture, Lohri festivities, Bhangra rhythms, and creative workshops.
During the program, University Secretary Mary Leanne Laganhon delivered interactive lectures as an adjunct professor, while also benchmarking best practices in student engagement, and exploring opportunities for future collaborations between CHMSU and CGC University.
Mary Leanne Laganhon photos
Neil Kevin Natabio photos
Earlier, in March 2025, CHMSU President Norberto Mangulabnan joined the CGC-led Global Education Conclave and signed a collaboration pact, laying the groundwork for sustained academic partnerships.
This international exchange is expected to strengthen CHMSU’s institutional capacity and align its initiatives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for inclusive education, ultimately contributing to the development of globally competitive graduates.
