by Stewart C. Ocampo

Pursuing the internationalization of higher education, the Mariano Marcos State University and Nanjing Normal University of Special Education (NNUSE) in China forged ties for exchange programs.

Today, June 2, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis and NNUSE Vice President Wu Binjiang signed a memorandum of understanding at the University Center for Flexible Learning. Wu represented NNUSE President Wang Lixin in the MOU signing.

Under the MOU, both universities will establish a Confucius Institute in Ilocos Norte to promote cultural and technical exchanges of the Chinese language and culture.

They also agreed to conduct exchange activities in education, research, culture and other similar fields, develop and offer transnational education and short-term courses, and to promote the Sustainable Development Goals through various initiatives.

Dr. Agrupis thanked the China university for its desire to partner with MMSU, and expressed confidence that the tie-up between the two will flourish. For his part, Dr. Binjiang said they expect that the MMSU-NNSUE partnership will further strengthen the friendship between China and the Philippines, particularly Ilocos Norte. 

The MOU signing was witnessed by other key officials from the China university, and administrators, faculty and staff of MMSU.

NNUSE is the 10^th China university partner of MMSU. Founded by the Ministry of Education in 1982, NNUSE is the only independent college in the country that specializes in training special education teachers and other professionals.

Maintaining deep ties with China, MMSU reopened its Chinese Corner in 2020, which contains books and information materials. It also established the Chinese Learning Center in 2021, a vibrant hub for convergence. (HLY/DPT, StratCom)