By DANIEL P. TAPAOAN, JR.

MMSU is one of the six state universities composing a technical working group (TWG) that will work on the creation of the Consortium of Open and Distance Education Institutions in the Philippines.

Other schools included in the TWG are the University of the Philippines - Open University (UPOU), Benguet State University (BSU), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), and the Ifugao State University (IFSU).

UPOU chancellor Dr. Melinda DP. Bandalaria and university presidents Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis (MMSU), Dr. Feliciano G. Calora, Jr. (BSU), Dr. Edgar A. Orden (CLSU), Dr. Jaime I. Manuel, Jr. (DMMMSU), and Dr. Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon (IFSU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for this purpose at the UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna last February 20.

As stipulated in the MOU, the TWG will identify areas of academic collaboration, particularly on distance education, among the Consortium members. The MOU specifically leads to the development and offering of programs, cross-enrolment, sharing of educational resources and publication, and research. 

Also, the TWG will collaborate for the capacity-building on faculty and student exchange, and for international collaboration and accreditation.

Pursuant to the MOU, all research outputs, discoveries and innovations produced by the TWG shall be jointly owned by the member-universities.

In support of the MOU’s intent, the member-universities shall support the activities of the TWG by allocating appropriate resources needed for the abovementioned purposes. 

Other specific areas of cooperation will be elaborated later in subsequent formal agreements to specify the detailed terms and conditions of such collaborations.

The cooperation between the six state universities shall be based on the principles of mutual benefit and respect for each other’s independence.