by Bryan R. Realgo, StratCom Correspondent

To widen opportunities for international learning, Mariano Marcos State University has applied for  the Asian International Mobility Students (AIMS) Program.

The goal of the AIMS program is to send students to the program’s member countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Cambodia, to engage in international learning for at least six months.

The members of the Technical Working Group of AIMS visited the university today, June 21, to inspect the facilities, various documents such as the faculty and student handbook, accreditation documents, and policies on international recruitment, visa facilitation, orientation, and access to support services, among others.

The Office of Internationalization, Linkages, and Partnership, headed by Dr. Mee Jay Domingo, was tasked to ensure the university's compliance to engaging in international programs.

Dr. Domingo explained that this activity is in line with MMSU’s aim to enhance students' intercultural and interpersonal skills, thereby, producing globally competitive and industry-ready graduates.

“The school teaches hard skills. Mobility programs develop the soft skills of our students. The Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) can help us strengthen this program as it will provide scholarships for our students,” Dr. Domingo added.

According to Ms. Corazon Nualda, Education Program Specialist for the International Affairs Service of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), MMSU was one of the identified universities for evaluation for being a center of excellence and development in various disciplines that are under the scope of the AIMS program. She also mentioned the recent performance of MMSU in world rankings as an advantage.

For her part, President Shirley C. Agrupis affirmed the university’s committment and readiness to be part of AIMS.

“We can assure you that in terms of preparation and readiness, the university is very much ready to expand our internationalization efforts with AIMS,” Dr. Agrupis stated.

For Dr. Prima Fe Framco, Vice President for Academic Affairs of MMSU, joining AIMS will help the university further its mandate to a borderless education and global employment for graduates. 

MMSU's active internationalization efforts support the 7-point agenda of Dr. Agrupis, especially on expanding External Linkages and Partnerships, which is pivotal in attaining MMSU's vision of becoming a premier university by 2028. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)