Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA)- Calabanga Campus and Thompson Rivers University (TRU) through Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) and British Columbia Council for International Education (BCCIE) conducted SEAMEO B2B meetings exploring collaboration on 17-18 March 2021.
Said activity served as the initial platform to see the possible international partnership between the two universities.
During the said event, College of Education Dean, Dr. Aurora Besmonte, and Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English Program Coordinator, Prof. Jerome Hipolito met with the supervisor for International Training Centre, TRU World, Myrissa Krenzler, to find a way to work together on some projects.
Dr. Aurora Besmonte with the BSE Filipino Coordinator and Principal of the Laboratory High School, Dr. Noel Celeste, BSE Math Coordinator and Curriculum Reforms and Development Coordinator, Prof. Salomon Azaňes, Jr., BSE English Coordinator, Prof. Jerome Hipolito, and BEED Coordinator, Dr. Jenelyn Aguelo conducted a series of meetings to plan the activities for the Academic Cooperation which was presented to the Campus Administrator, Dr. Cornelio Funtanar.
A Memorandum of Understanding for Academic Cooperation between CBSUA and TRU was signed by TRU World Global Operations CEO, Baihua Chadwick on 13 April 2021 and by CBSUA President, Dr. Alberto N. Naperi, DPA on 10 May 2021. The purpose of this partnership includes, but is not limited to 1. Academic partnerships (field school, articulation programs); 2. Short-term intensive program; 3. Visiting student programs; and 4. Joint research.
Dr. Cornelio Funtanar laid the CBSUA and TRU Academic Cooperation to the local Administrative Council last 24 May 2021 formally endorsed by the University Administrative Council to the Board of Regents 25 May 2021.
The College Dean with the coordinators had consultative meeting with the University Planning Director, Dr. Emerson Bergonio, on 7 June 2021 to align the activities of the CBSUA and TRU Academic Cooperation to the university plans and targets.
recommendations arising from the consultative meetings with TRU include crafting of university-wide policy on international partnerships to serve as a guide for designing projects involving international partners and profiling of faculty based on expertise to develop a pool of experts for future international lectures and speakerships and the visiting professor program.
CBSUA Calabanga gears toward attaining University goal of intensifying internationalization initiatives amidst pandemic.
with reports from Dr. Aurora Besmonte and Prof. Jerome Hipolito