Now a global rankings achiever, MMSU is set for 'more'

By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr.

Achieving significant milestones in the international arena, Mariano Marcos State University now stands as a leading university in the Philippines. 

This was emphasized by MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis in her State of the University Address (SOUA) delivered on January 19 at the Teatro Ilocandia before the whole MMSU community. The SOUA highlighted the Anniversary Convocation attended by more than a thousand stakeholders, including national government officials and representatives of MMSU’s partner-institutions. 

“True to the vision of President Ferdinand E. Marcos when he founded the university 45 years ago, we can confidently say that MMSU has become a model among Philippine universities,” President Agrupis enthused.

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., who served as guest of honor and speaker in the convocation, lauded the numerous achievements of the university in the past year and its other set objectives.

“It is worth commending that MMSU is one of the premier state universities not only in the Ilocos region and Luzon, but in the whole country,” expressed Commission on Higher Education Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera III, who also attended the anniversary activities. He assured that “we in CHED are committed to give our full support on your programs and initiative to achieve your 7-point agenda.”

This year’s SOUA highlighted how the university has emerged as a global university whose achievements now serve as inspiration and a benchmark for other Philippine higher education institutions. She particularly included in her speech MMSU’s inclusion in three prestigious global rankings last year. The university placed second among Philippine universities and 401st-600th in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings; fifth in the country and 356th in the world in UI GreenMetric World University Rankings; and, having entered in the Top 101-200 in the World Universities with Real Impact Rankings, ranking fourth globally in Fourth Industrial Revolution, 36th in Industrial Application, and 49th in Crisis Management. 

Aside from triumphing in its internationalization efforts, the MMSU president also presented how the university achieved more in the areas of instruction, research, extension, production, vibrant campus environment, and management. 

“Since 2017, guided by our 7-point agenda to ACHIEVE, together, we have sustained a culture of achievement, asserted our relevance in the local and global contexts, and recalibrated for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” she said.

“The last three years tested our resilience as an institution, yet, we thrived in the New Normal, and even resolved to achieve more. These achievements inspire us to dream even bigger and for the future,” she added. 

To achieve more for the future, president Agrupis shared that MMSU will strive to become an international university through transnational education. “In partnership with the Liverpool Hope University and University of East London in the United Kingdom, we will explore possibilities of offering dual degree programs in information technology, specifically on data science, robotics and autonomous systems, and in designing micro-credential courses for the international community.”

In terms of research engagements, “we shall increasingly partner with government and industry to implement wide-scale, cross-disciplinary research to address sustainability issues; and to ensure convergence between technology generation and technology transfer.”

For extension, the university will strengthen its monitoring and impact assessment to address possible gaps and ultimately, create stronger impact and transform more lives.

To further accelerate its resource generation, MMSU will open its new auxiliary buildings to concessionaires. In the long term, the Knowledge, Innovation, and Science and Technology (KIST) Park special ecozone will be operationalized. 

The university also seeks to become a ‘green and sustainable campus’ by transforming itself into a net zero energy campus; by redeveloping its Biodiversity Park as an ecotourism and learning site; and by converting its Sports and Cultural Complex as a community health and wellness complex. 

Further, MMSU will enhance its capacity for anticipatory governance by cascading futures thinking to all its stakeholders. Digital capabilities of personnel and students will also be upgraded to strengthen their information, communication and technology skills base. 

Further, the university will continue to invest in its human resources by implementing a more holistic health and wellness program that integrates physical, mental, and occupational health. The university will also sustain its gender and development, values reformation, and spiritual development programs. 

“As we continue to dream, we reaffirm our commitment to human capital development – “Higit sa lahat, tao” – by strengthening individual capabilities, enhancing good will and cooperation among stakeholders, and promoting MMSU as a safe space for the pursuit of self-actualization,” the MMSU president mused. 

Anniversary convocation can also be watched at the MMSU Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MMSUofficial/videos/5358605617573049. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)