By Daniel Tapaoan, Jr., StratCom Correspondent

Representatives from the MMSU College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development (CAFSD) participated in an academic exchange initiative hosted by the Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (TUAF) in Vietnam from November 15 to 20.

The MMSU delegation was composed of Dr. Charlie Batin, CAFSD OIC dean, and Dr. Arlene Gonzales, chief for international programs and chairperson of the Department of Environmental Science. Joining them were CAFSD students Naiki Rostok Bello (BS Agriculture), Janzen Lyle Hingpit (BS Environmental Science), and Allan Ace Marquez (BS Forestry). 

During the six-day program, the delegation visited laboratories and classes under TUAF’s Advanced Education Program. They also presented their respective degree programs at MMSU to the host university. 

Moreover, MMSU and TUAF officials conducted a partnership meeting to explore potential areas of academic and research collaboration between the two universities. Additionally, the MMSU delegates participated in the TUAF’s 55th anniversary celebration. 

“This is our first visit to TUAF since the partnership with MMSU began in 2016, which involves collaborative research activities in agriculture, forestry, and other allied fields,” said Dr. Batin, who also serves as a visiting forestry professor at the Vietnam university. He added that the visit served as a great opportunity to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between both institutions.