July 31, 2024 - Romblon State University has taken a significant step towards internationalization with its successful partnership mission to Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture in Nova Scotia, Canada last July 13-22, 2024, wherein they benchmarked smart agriculture practices with the main objective of establishing RSU as a center of excellence in the field of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The delegation was composed of Hon. Congressman Eleandro Jesus “Budoy” F. Madrona; Hon. Mayor Lisette M. Arboleda; RSU President Merian P. Catajay Mani; VP Tomas T. Faminial; VP Emelyn F. Montoya; VP Eddie G. Fetalvero; Atty. Glenn Niño M. Sartillo; Dr. Gianinna Elaine M. Labicane, Mr. Jayson Reeves C. Mani; Mr. JRden F. Fadallan;  Dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Dr. Alfredo F. Fortu, Jr.; RSU Sta. Fe Campus Director, Dr. Rey P. Rasgo, BS Agriculture student Mr. Elisha Danne D. Gabinete and BS Fisheries student Ms. Danielle S. Geguillan.

On the first day of the partnership mission, the delegation met with key officials from the Dalhousie University – Faculty of Agriculture to discuss international cooperation, technical assistance services, student and faculty mobility and exchange, and joint programming, setting the stage for a collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership between the two institutions. The officials RSU engaged with during this initial meeting were:

• Dr. Gefu Wang-Pruski, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture

• Dr. Dian Patterson, Associate Dean Academic

• Dr. Miriam Gordon, Assistant Dean International

• Dr. Balakrishnan Prithiviraj, Assistant Vice President, Government & Global Relations

• Mike McConkey, Project and Finance Manager, Farm;

• Lana Bos, Manager, International; and,

• David Parks, Projects & Partnerships Coordinator, International.

The delegation also engaged in a series of meetings and visits to Dalhousie University’s state-of-the-art agriculture and fisheries facilities. They explored the latest advancements in precision farming, sustainable agriculture, and digital tools for farm management, allowing them to gain valuable insights into the implementation of smart agriculture techniques, which are poised to revolutionize farming practices not only within RSU, but at the province of Romblon as a whole.

Moreover, Dr. Emelyn F. Montoya, RSU’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and Hon. Mayor Lisette M. Arboleda of the Municipality of Looc, Romblon, visited Dalhousie University's Halifax Campus to benchmark the University’s Nursing program in alignment with RSU's intention to set up its own allied medicine programs in the near future, thereby expanding its academic offerings and addressing healthcare needs in Romblon.

The delegation also visited Dalhousie University's industry partners, including Scotian Gold, Luckett Vineyards, Dykeview Farm, and Cornwallis Farm, among others. These visits provided insights into not only the integration of smart technologies in various agricultural settings, but also Dalhousie’s unique contributions to its partners within the local community.

They also had the privilege of meeting several prominent figures, including 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗠𝗣) 𝗞𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗶𝘀, Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture; and 𝗠𝗣 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀 of Cumberland—Colchester.

The delegation was also graciously welcomed in Nova Scotia’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, where they had the privilege of engaging with 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗦. 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮, Ambassador of the Philippines to Canada. Also in this courtesy meeting were Ms. Myca Magnolia Maog Fischer, Deputy Head of Mission of the Philippines Embassy; Ms. Connie Lacson, Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Nova Scotia; Ms. Tracey Taweel, Executive Deputy Minister; Ryan Grant, Deputy Minister Advanced Education; and Kathlene Farrell, Department of Intergovernmental Affairs.

The mission culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between RSU and the Dalhousie University- Faculty of Agriculture, formalizing their partnership and paving the way for future collaborations between the institutions. The MOU outlines plans for joint projects, faculty and student exchanges, and the development of curriculum modules focused on smart agriculture that are responsive to the pressing needs of the industry.

This partnership mission was generously funded by the Office of Congressman Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona -- a testament to his unwavering support for quality education as the “Father of Romblon State University”, as well as his commitment to ensure food security and sustainability in the province of Romblon through cutting-edge agricultural practices. His commitment to fostering academic excellence and sustainable development in the region has been instrumental in making this mission a reality.

This initiative is a direct result of RSU's previous engagement with Canadian Higher Education Institutions during the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) conference held in Vancouver last November 2023. Earlier this year, representatives from Dalhousie University visited RSU to gain an extensive understanding of RSU's agricultural context and identify key areas of partnership between the institutions.

This successful partnership mission marks a new chapter in RSU's journey towards internationalization, academic excellence and community empowerment.  As RSU moves forward with its vision of becoming a smart agriculture hub in the region, the knowledge and partnerships gained from this mission leverages RSU to implement innovative agricultural practices, enhance academic programs, and contribute to the sustainable development of Romblon's agricultural sector and in promotion of the province’s agriecotourism.