By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis delivered a keynote speech in a Development Forum on Internationalizing ILSTC Vocational Education today, August 31. This is part of the 2023 China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week being held in Guiyang City, China. 

Tackling the integration of digitalization and globalization in the education system, Dr. Agrupis highlighted the initiatives of the Mariano Marcos State University in attaining digital transformation.

Anchored on the MMSU 4.0 framework and roadmap, she said the MMSU strategies include integrating digital skills into the curriculum of degree programs and offering of digital skills courses; conduct of capacity building activities; upgrading IT infrastructure and resources; and, academe-industry collaboration. She also shared the university recently launched the College of Computing and Information Sciences to meet the growing demand for information, communication and technology graduates. 

Dr. Agrupis also emphasized that the Philippine government promotes digitalization as a key strategy for its transformation agenda, motivating Filipinos to participate in the competitive global economy. She added that the Commission on Higher Education champions the internationalization of Philippine education through international scholarships, transnational education, and smart campus development programs. 

At the end of her talk, Dr. Agrupis mused that higher education institutions must digitally evolve and internationalize to sustain quality education and relevance. 

Dr. Agrupis joins CHED Chair De Vera III, International Affairs Staff director Lily Freida Milla, other CHED officials and 13 other university presidents from the Philippines in the CAECW 2023. 

With the theme “New Vision for Education Cooperation, Common Prosperity for Belt and Road,” the event serves as avenue in promoting educational cooperation and people-to-people exchange between China and ASEAN, and contribute to the Belt and Road cooperation. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)