On June 4, 2025, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (Mapúa MCM), through its Office for Corporate Partnerships – Center for International Programs, successfully hosted a Global Signature Course that brought together students from two academic institutions: the Medical Record and Health Information Management class of Universitas Esa Unggul in Indonesia and the Psychological Assessment class of Mapúa MCM. Held in a hybrid format at the Mapúa MCM Global Classroom and via Zoom, the event showcased timely and relevant discussions centered on the integration of medical and psychological records for holistic care and mental health in the digital era, specifically focusing on the misuse of psychological testing on the internet.
The session featured three speakers who offered diverse perspectives from the fields of health sciences and psychology. Bonnie Junell V. Abanid, RPm, RPsy, Assistant Professor from Mapúa MCM’s College of Health Sciences, led a discussion on the importance of integrating the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) and DSM-5-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) frameworks to provide more comprehensive and patient-centered care. Muhammad Fuad Iqbal, S.K.M., M.K.M., a faculty member from the Medical Record Program at Universitas Esa Unggul, contributed his expertise on global medical records management and the standards that guide ethical health information practices. Adding a fresh student perspective, Anna Luisa T. Yap, a second-year BS Psychology student from Mapúa MCM, delivered an insightful presentation on the ethical concerns surrounding the increasing misuse of psychological testing on digital platforms.
The event was held with the rationale of giving students a meaningful global academic experience even in an online or hybrid setup. It also embodied the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4: Quality Education, by promoting inclusive, accessible, and internationally aligned learning opportunities, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through the collaboration between Mapúa MCM and Universitas Esa Unggul.
More than just classroom experience, the Global Signature Course exemplifies the value of international academic engagement and interdisciplinary learning. It empowered students to appreciate the convergence of medical and psychological disciplines while understanding the global context of ethical health care and mental health practices. As healthcare and education continue to evolve in a digitally connected world, initiatives like this are vital in shaping globally competent professionals ready to face the challenges of the future.