By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr.

A premier university in Canada has tied up with the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) to promote international collaboration in the field of agriculture, aqua-fisheries, aquaculture, and supporting sciences starting this year. 

The two-century old Dalhousie University (DAL) in Nova Scotia, Canada, known for its transformative academic and pioneering research programs, and MMSU have agreed to cooperate in the development of these areas through academic, research, and community engagement exchanges. 

DAL Vice President for Government and Global Relations Matt Hebb and MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis formalized this partnership through signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in a virtual meeting today, June 16. 

Citing the MOU, Dr. Marlowe U. Aquino, MMSU’s chief for international programs and lead coordinator, said the two universities will jointly conduct faculty and student exchanges, delivery of courses, and capacity-building programs; provide technical expertise in instruction, research, and extension; and, deliver development transformation and reforms. 

Dr. Hebb expressed commitment to the newly established pact with MMSU. He said the DAL takes seriously its internationalization efforts, “that is why we choose our partners carefully.”

Dr. Agrupis said the DAL-MMSU partnership is valuable “as we aim to strengthen our [academic and research] programs and contribute to global knowledge in various fields.” 

“We are committed to make this collaboration work for the people in the years to come,” she said, hoping that both universities will collaborate further in industry and business fields. 

Atty. Lily Freida M. Milla, OIC executive director of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) International Affairs, congratulated both universities on their tie-up and expressed the agency’s support to the collaboration. 

In May 2021, the University of Saskatchewan, another leading public university in Canada, partnered with MMSU to jointly promote academic and research exchanges. 

Dr. Mee Jay A. Domingo, director for MMSU’s external linkages and partnerships, noted the collaboration is another product of the Philippine-Canada Universities Education Consortium for International Collaborative Partnerships (PhilCanEDUCON – Magic 7+).

Domingo said PhilCanEDUCON – Magic 7+ aims to foster academic and scholarly collaboration among the member-universities in Canada and the Philippines. (StratCom)