By Kathrina Antonio

Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) strengthened ties with the University of Hawai’i (UH) Mānoa through various meetings and collaborations held from July 15-16 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis and Dr. Brent White, Chief Global Officer of UH Mānoa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore exchange programs for faculty, students, and scholars. Both universities will also implement joint research programs and conferences and provide academic publications, information, and materials.

Present at the signing ceremony were Prof. Dean Domingo, program coordinator of Iloko Studies in UH Mānoa; Dr. Aris Reynold Cajigal, dean of the College of Teacher Education (CTE); Atty. Cheska Arla Agrupis, Executive Assistant IV; Prof. Krismary Sharmaine Yapo, chief of alumni relations, along with officers and advisers of Normalites of Hawaii including Mr. Arlene John Peralta (President), Mr. Rafael Velasco (Vice President), Ms. Ligaya Ricafrente and Ms. Florence Peralta (Advisers).

Post the signing ceremony, the MMSU delegation paid a courtesy call to Dr. David Lassner, UH President, and had a meeting with the representatives of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) of UH Mānoa on future probiotics and biofuel collaborative research. The CTAHR team comprised of Dr. Jinzeng Yang, Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences; Professors from Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering including Dr. Qing Li, Prof. Nan Jiang, Prof. Zhiyan Du, Dr. Pratibha Nerurkar, and Dr. Gernot Presting; Dr. Catherine Chan, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs; Dr. Sujin Jun, Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences; and Prof. Mijeong Lee, Assistant Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. MMSU and CTHAR also discussed the formalization of the partnership through a MoU.
Furthermore, Dr. Peter James Ilacalia-Gann, Principal Investigator of the Genomics and Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Prof. Rhian Jaymar Ramil, Chief of the Office for Research Ethics, and Dr. Annjeanette Alain Galang, Chief for Admission for Local and Foreign Undergraduate Students and  University Liaison Officer to the Bureau of Immigration, visited John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) of the UH Mānoa  for a collaboration meeting on the utilization of gene editing as methods to further the safety of the probiotic isolates of MMSU and for gene therapy. Both institutions also eye various faculty and student exchange programs.

Meanwhile, Dr. Marlina Lino, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Aris Reynold Caijgal, CTE dean, Dr. Bert. Gamiao, Chief of Instructional Materials Development, and Atty. Cheska Arla Agrupis, Executive Assistant IV, discussed potential collaborations on Iloko Studies with Prof. Dean Domingo, Program Coordinator of Iloko Studies in UH Mānoa, and Dr. Arlene John Peralta, MMSU Alumni Focal Person in Hawaii.

In 2021, MMSU and UH Mānoa collaborated with Nakem Conferences Philippines and Nakem Conferences International to document the successful approaches, philosophies, methodologies, and strategies educators employ in responding to the demands of the altered educational environment. Additionally, UH Mānoa donated 2,850 law books to MMSU in 2017.

Founded in 1907, UH Mānoa is renowned for its unique research opportunities and diverse programs, attracting students and faculty from around the world. This new partnership with MMSU promises to advance educational and research prospects for both universities.