Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU strengthens ties with East-West Center in Hawaii

By Ryand Angelo Ugalde
 

Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano Jr. met with officials of the East-West Center (EWC), led by President Dr. Celeste Connors, to reaffirm the institutions' shared commitment to regional engagement across the Asia-Pacific.

The meeting brought together MMSU officials and officers of the MMSU Global Association (MGA), based in Hawaii, highlighting the vital role of the university's international alumni community in fostering meaningful global partnerships.

President Manzano said the meeting reaffirmed both institutions' commitment to expanding opportunities for academic exchange and collaboration while identifying concrete initiatives that will strengthen the partnership in the years ahead.

"We are grateful for this opportunity to strengthen our partnership with the East-West Center. We look forward to working together on programs that will benefit our students, faculty, and the wider academic community."

The discussions built on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between MMSU and the East-West Center on June 2, 2025, which has since paved the way for several collaborative initiatives. 

Among these were the East-West Center's participation in the International ARAMID Project Pitching in October 2025 and the cultural immersion program that welcomed students from the State of Hawaii to MMSU, further strengthening intercultural understanding and academic exchange.

During the meeting, both institutions explored new opportunities to deepen their partnership through the establishment of a Visiting Fellow Program, the planned visit of East-West Center officials to MMSU, and sustained dialogues on pressing issues affecting the Asia-Pacific region.
 

The EWC, a national educational institution founded by the United States Congress in 1960, promotes cooperative study, research, and training to build better relationships between the U.S., Asia, and the Pacific.