UK envoy tackles partnership opportunities in MMSU lecture
By Ian Paul Villanueva
Eager to hear insights from a global diplomat, university administrators and student leaders filled the venue as Her Excellency Sarah Hulton OBE, ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Philippines, spoke on transnational education and several other areas of potential partnerships. This is part of the International Stallion Lecture Program held at the MMSU National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC) on April 22.
The lecture is part of the UK Embassy's initiative to engage with the university and establish formal partnerships with MMSU. These partnerships will focus on areas such as transnational education, skills development, and innovation.
In her talk, Ambassador Hulton described education as a cornerstone of the UK and the Philippines’ 80-year-old diplomatic relations, noting it as “one of these strong links between us.” In making this remark, she also recognized the contributions of the Filipino community in the UK, particularly in its health sector, where over 50,000 Filipinos serve as nurses and healthcare workers.
“Our shared vision aligns with the UK's international education strategy, which sees education as a pathway to jobs, a way to build global connections, and a means to tackle shared challenges,” she said.
On this note, Ambassador Hulton expressed the UK government’s willingness to extend its expertise in various areas and to facilitate institution-to-institution partnerships between MMSU and UK universities.
“We're very proud of UK expertise in areas such as English language education, digital learning, academic leadership, and innovation. And we really want to share that expertise in ways that support your ambitions,” she added.
Besides Ambassador Hulton, the university also hosted Second Secretary Renuka Randhawa of the UK Embassy, Country Director Lotus Postrado, and Head of Education Gerald Magno of the British Council Philippines, as well as officials from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte.
Following the lecture, Ms. Postrado led a consultation with concerned university focal persons to identify particular areas where British Council Philippines could step in as a partner. British Council Philippines is the education and cultural arm of the UK Embassy.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Aris Reynold Cajigal, with Internationalization, Linkages and Partnerships Director Jeanette Dials and Planning Director Sherlyn Nicolas, welcomed the visitors in their courtesy call to the Office of the President and accompanied them to the lecture venue.
In his speech, representing MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., Dr. Cajigal expressed optimism to formalize the collaborations between the UK and MMSU. “We see great value in building stronger links with partners in the United Kingdom, and we hope that today’s visit will lead to more opportunities for collaboration and dialogue in the years ahead,” he said.
In her closing remarks on behalf of Vice President for Planning and Strategic Foresight Mee Jay Domingo, Dr. Nicolas noted the importance of Ambassador Hulton's visit. “Through our discussions on transnational education, we aren’t just talking about degrees; we are building bridges that provide Filipino students with world-class opportunities and foster a truly global academic community,” she remarked.
Apr, 24, 2026 01:29:pm
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