ICA-AP Committee on Cooperatives in Educational Institutions (ICEI) Holds 18th Annual Committee Meeting in Cebu, Philippines

The International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) Committee on Cooperatives in Educational Institutions (ICEI) successfully convened its 18th Annual Committee Meeting on 28 April 2026 in Cebu, Philippines, in a hybrid format. The meeting was organised in conjunction with the 54th CLIMBS General Assembly and Educational Forum.

The meeting was chaired by Prof. Shogo Takegawa, Chairperson of ICEI and President of the National Federation of University Co-operative Associations (NFUCA), Japan. It brought together committee members, observers, and representatives from cooperative organisations across the Asia-Pacific region.

The session commenced with opening remarks by the Chairperson, followed by messages of support from Fr. Elmo P. Manching, Chairperson, CLIMBS; MGen. Gilbert S. Llanto, ICA-AP Board Member (Philippines); and Mr. Noel D. Raboy, President & CEO, CLIMBS. The agenda was formally adopted, and the minutes of the previous meeting held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in November 2025 were confirmed.

New members and observers were introduced, reflecting the continued expansion and engagement within the ICEI network. The Committee approved and welcomed NATCCO as a member of ICEI, further strengthening regional representation. The Secretary’s Report highlighted key activities undertaken between November 2025 and April 2026, along with updates on membership and ongoing initiatives.

A key segment of the meeting included country presentations and member sharing, where participants exchanged updates, best practices, and experiences in promoting cooperatives in educational institutions. Country reports were presented by representatives from Japan, Malaysia, India, Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, reflecting diverse approaches and developments across the region.

The Committee also deliberated on the proposed ICEI Activity Plan for 2026–2027, which includes a series of webinars, workshops, and exchange programmes aimed at strengthening cooperative education and capacity building across member countries. Members provided inputs to further refine the activity calendar and align it with emerging priorities.

During the meeting, it was decided to extend the tenure of the ICEI office bearers until the next ICA-AP Regional Assembly to be held in Beijing, China, and discussions were also held on the planning and timeline for the 19th ICEI Annual Statutory Meeting (2027).

The meeting was attended by members from organisations including NFUCA (Japan), ANGKASA (Malaysia), NCUI (India), KFCU (Republic of Korea), NCF (Nepal), SANASA (Sri Lanka), CLIMBS and ACDI (Philippines), among others. Observers included Mr. Noel D. Raboy, Fr. Elmo P. Manching, and MGen. Gilbert S. Llanto and Ms. Claudine Malanog from ACDI; Ms. Mary Rose Gob from NATCCO; and Mr. Romulo Villamin from MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center, Philippines. The meeting recorded active participation from both in-person and virtual attendees, thereby fulfilling the required quorum.

The session concluded with closing remarks from the ICEI leadership. The 18th ICEI Annual Committee Meeting reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to promoting cooperative education, strengthening institutional collaboration, and advancing the role of cooperatives in educational institutions across the Asia-Pacific region.