By Stewart C. Ocampo

Creating more opportunities in a borderless educational landscape, the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) sealed agreements with Dezhou University (DZU) and Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS) in China.

On May 15, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis traveled with University Board Secretary Luvee Hazel Aquino to Shandong province in China, where the two institutions are located, to sign memoranda of understanding for educational and cultural exchanges.

The DZU and SAAS were represented by President Zhao Changlin and Vice President Liu Kaichang, respectively.

Through a five-year engagement, MMSU and DZU will facilitate exchange of faculty, researchers and students; conduct international cooperation projects; and enhance cultural exchanges. Through the creation of the Shandong-Ilocos Norte Humanistic Education Exchange, they will also offer scholarship grants and establish a Philippine Research Institute; build Philippine Youth Exchange Base; and set up a joint laboratory for smart agriculture.

Meanwhile, MMSU and SAAS are set to construct a Maize (corn) Joint Research and Development Center between Shandong and Ilocos Norte; conduct germplasm exchange and corn variety experiments; carry out various collaborative research; and strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperation.

"I strongly believe that the synergistic collaboration between our universities will pave the way for a promising future, marked by our strong commitment and initiatives," Dr. Agrupis mentioned in her message.

Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc and several department heads of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte witnessed the MOU signing ceremony in China. For its separate part, PGIN will be responsible on the travel itinerary, accommodation, facilitation of exchange visa of the delegates from China who will travel to Ilocos Norte, through the 10-day Cultural Exchange for students and professionals. 

An English Enrichment Scholarship will also be offered by PGIN for English Language learners, including beginners, to study in MMSU.

In 2021, an MOU was also signed between MMSU and Shandong Academy for the implementation of agricultural science and technology programs. The Chinese Learning Center was also established at the University Library System to strengthen the Chinese culture education in Ilocos Norte. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)