Collaborations across borders have become an ever-growing trend in the educational landscape today as this is seen to mainly increase the impact in global learning while providing vast opportunities for institutional development.
Traversing this goal of internationalization with like-minded universities, Central Philippines State University (CPSU) represented by Dr. Aladino C. Moraca, and the Wufeng University (WU) in Taiwan represented by Dr. Li Tien Hsin, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last August 12, 2019 held at the Negros Oriental State University Main Campus I.
The main direction of the said agreement was to formally establish the collaborative relationship between the two institutions under the principles of equality and mutual benefit.
In particular, the two University presidents enunciated their roles to encourage and promote academic activities such as exchange of faculty and staff members, exchange of students, exchange of publications and relevant academic and scholarly information, conduct joint researches, lectures and symposia, along with other activities deemed appropriate for both parties.
CPSU President Dr. Aladino Moraca stated that linkages between foreign and domestic higher education institutions (HEIs) like this are integral in broadening the scope of traditional partnerships.
“This pact that we forge with Wufeng University provides access to global talents as we find common grounds to collaborate and partner on projects and work together towards the achievement of our common goal.
This initiative further promises to embrace the diversity of ideas and perspectives to strengthen the University’s main thrusts,” Dr. Moraca explained.
Dr. Denis Bilocura, CPSU director for International Affairs, who was also present during the said event stated that this activity was a significant leap forward for the University to gain access to advanced innovations, practices and developments of other highly acclaimed international universities that bring fresh perspectives in the institution in the fields of instruction, research and extension.
It could be recalled that this partnership sprang as the tangible output of the recently held international convention on the University Presidents’ forum spearheaded by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) and participated by the local and national SUCs in the country in collaboration with Taiwan Universities held at the National University of Kaoshiung (NUK) in Taiwan, last July 5-9, 2019.
Dr. Fernando D. Abello, VP for Academic Affairs, who represented the institution in the said conference stated that the goal of the said consortium was to increase international engagement between the two countries, and establish lifelong linkages in terms of research, instruction and extension exchange services.
“This endeavor enables us to enhance and widen our visibility as a University to other universities in Asia and in the world. There must be inbound and outbound of faculty to harmonize global competitiveness considering that we should be one step forward in terms of research, instruction and extension innovation and practices,” Dr. Abello added.
Indeed, embarking in this journey will bridge the need of the University in establishing socially and academically-responsive products and services with international quality research, instruction, extension, innovations, partnerships, and linkages.
By: J.A. Emoy