CatSU eyes BU for education cooperation partnership

To strengthen, promote, and develop academic disciplines and institutional linkage for education cooperation, Bicol University (BU), through President Arnulfo M. Mascariñas, and the Catanduanes State University (CatSU) also represented by its President, Dr. Patrick Alain T. Azanza, inked a Memorandum of Understanding on September 27, 2022.

Dr. Amelia A. Dorosan, VP for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Edie S. See, VP for Planning and Development, were also present at the ceremonies.

In particular for the nursing, medical, and juris doctor programs, this cooperation will run a faculty and student exchange program. The university officials will also meet for academic consultations, participation in seminars, and extension activities. A joint research partnership between the two institutions was also agreed upon, and faculty and research resources as well as library services will be shared. This will open the door for the exchange of educational resources, research publications, and instructional materials.

Additionally, they will take part in promotion, information exchange and dissemination, contact facilitation, and peer review of research outputs involving subject-matter experts. The institutions will also look into options for publishing research, co-sponsoring national and/or international conferences, and engaging in academic exchanges in areas of shared interest.

By agreeing to serve as the primary source of information and a forum for user discussion on current HEI global activities, through university portals, the partnership will also provide the opportunity to submit articles for consideration for publication in the appropriate journals as well as the dissemination of reports and papers of interest.

Both institutions will provide knowledge in their specialties, which may include plant science, environmental science, or agricultural. Along with other advantageous collaborations, both parties will also exchange innovations developed via research.

Furthermore, BU has agreed to cross-enrol CatSU's incoming law, nursing, and medical students, as well as grant permission for those programs to use BU's Tertiary Hospital for clinical training. The program will last for an extendable five years, as agreed upon by both universities. | by Arnold C. Noda, CPRO