By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr.

Taking part in intensifying the Philippine-Canada education system, an international academy in Alberta, Canada and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) have joined hands to pursue academic exchanges starting this year. 

The AGA Academy in Calgary, Alberta and MMSU commit to collaborate on various internationalization activities to advance quality education and community engagement between the two institutions. 

MMSU is the first-ever Philippine university partner of the Canada-based academy that is owned by an alumna of the university. 

Formalizing this partnership, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis and AGA Academy President and Chief Executive Officer Abelita L. Villanueva, who took up agricultural technology in MMSU in 1996, signed a memorandum of understanding in a virtual ceremony held on June 2. 

Both institutions agreed to conduct joint lectures and career talks, organize academic internship programs, develop and promote international programs, and share experiences in innovative teaching methods and design of curriculum. The two schools will also conduct exchanges of faculty and students for teaching assignments, study, and research. 

PSCA expressed hope the partnership will help the Canada academy in creating global academic experience and building sustainable future for its students. 

“The readiness of our university in instruction spells our commitment to make this partnership grow and become sustainable,” she added. 

Villanueva thanked MMSU for choosing the academy as one of its international partner-institutions, hoping the tie up would open for fruitful projects in the future. 

As a way of giving back to her alma mater, she pledged that AGA Academy will be offering a full scholarship to MMSU on a yearly basis. “That is the least we can do to help our students who have lack of or no means of completing education,” she expressed. 

AGA Academy offers diploma programs on community support and addictions worker, tourism management, pharmacy assistance, advanced and basic massage therapy, digital marketing and web design, retail and job readiness, hospitality and food services, in-flight job readiness, and care and safety.  

AGA Academy is now the fifth Canadian partner-institution of MMSU, joining the Coast Mountain College, University of Saskatchewan, Dalhousie University, and Evergreen College. 

It can be recalled that in March 2022, PSCA traveled to Canada on a business trip with Commission on Higher Education officials and key personnel of other Philippine state universities and colleges to explore possible international partners. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)