Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) has established agreements with the University of Regina (UofR) in Saskatchewan province in Canada to pursue collaboration in line with education exchanges for research and study and dual and joint degree programs, and community services.

The agreements were contained in two separate memorandums of understanding (MOU) that were signed between DMMMSU President Dr. Jaime I. Manuel, Jr. and UofR Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Dr. David Gregory at the Sheraton Hotel in Pasay City.

The signing was witnessed by Dr. Elsie M. Pacho, DMMMSU Vice President for Academic Affairs; and Mr. Michael Liu, UofR Manager of International Relations and Partnerships.

The purpose of the MOU is to develop academic and educational cooperation on the basis of equality and reciprocity and to promote sustainable partnerships and mutual understanding between DMMMSU and UofR. Meanwhile, the Student Exchange Program Agreement (SEPA) allows both institutions to provide exchange for up to three undegraduate students between the two Institutions.

The MOU on future development of the Magic 7+ Consortium was also signed among member universities including DMMMSU with UofR and Benguet State University, Central Luzon State University, Central Mindanao University, Mariano Marcos State University, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College and University of Southeastern Philippines— in coordination with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines and Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Consistent with the cordial and cooperative bilateral relationship between Canada and the Philippines and in order to foster additional academic and scholarly collaborations among all the consortium member universities, the 8 institutions have agreed to explore opportunities to cooperate in various academic, research and scholarly endeavors in the fields of mutual interests through the Philippine-Canada Universities Education Consortium for International Collaborative Partnerships (PhilCanEDUCON Magic 7+).

In his speech during the signing ceremony, President Manuel emphasized that “engaged and multidisciplinary learning opportunities have always been a priority at DMMMSU”.

“In my role as the DMMMSU President, one of my key goals is to increase mutual understanding among the people of different cultures and territories by means of educational and cultural exchange”, he added.

Prior to the signing ceremony, DMMMSU also joined the Friends of Saskatchewan, Canada Reception Dinner— on the occasion of the visit of the Honorable Paul Merriman, Minister of Health, Government of Saskatchewan and his delegation at Hilton Hotel, Pasay City on November 30.

The partnership between DMMMSU and UofR was one of the products of DMMMSU’s participation to the 2022 Philippine-Canada International Academic Study Exposure Visit (IASEV) in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada last October 1 to 15, 2022.

During the official trip, Dr. Jesus Rafael B. Jarata, Director for Internationalization and Linkages, and Mr. Farland Valera, Project Leader of the DMMMSU & Commission on Higher Education (CHED) funded research under the PhilCanEDUCON Magic 7+ Consortium’s Indigenous Knowledge Management System and Cultural Management (IKSCM) Program— along with the Magic 7+ delegation visited UofR to work on thematic areas of cooperation, and on the prospect of bilateral agreements between DMMMSU and UofR. As for new bilateral partnership being eyed, DMMMSU and UofR also agreed to pursue a professional exchange program (visiting lectureship and research fellowship) and a student mobility/exchange program.

UofR is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is ranked 601 in the World University Rankings by Times Higher Education and has an overall score of 3.7 stars. Likewise, it has earned a reputation for innovative thinking. UofR was the first university in Western Canada to offer co-op studies, and the province’s first green roof was constructed on top of its Research and Innovation Centre. (Jesus Rafael B. Jarata)