The Gokongwei College of Engineering (GCOE), with the support of University Chancellor Dr. Robert C. Roleda, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) regarding the establishment of providing undergraduate and graduate student exchange programs, yesterday at the Villavicencio Board Room, 15th Floor Henry Sy Sr. Hall.
Facilitated by the faculty and staff of GCOE, the signing was attended by Roleda, along with Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (VCRI) Raymond Girard Tan.
Building bridges and connections
During the signing, UTP was represented by their university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Professor Ir Dr Mohd Shahir Liew and Dr. Belladonna Maulianda of the Petroleum Engineering Department.
In order to develop and advance academic exchanges and cooperation in research and education between DLSU and UTP, the two universities agreed to enter into a General Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last November 2017. The document includes major points such as joint research activities, exchange of academic materials and publications, exchange of faculty members for research and discussions, and exchange of both graduate and undergraduate students for research, education, and internships.
According to Roque, this initiative was made through the efforts of Dr. Kathleen B. Aviso of the Chemical Engineering Department. With the UTP’s motto of “Reinventing the Future”, and DLSU’s “Your Future Begins Here”, the collaboration between the two universities take root from having the same vision.
On student exchange programs
Having signed the agreement, DLSU and UTP will be formalizing a five-year partnership, with both universities allowing their own students to experience the different approaches in education. According to Roleda, the opportunity will encourage students to “spend some time overseas to get exposed to other cultures, and experience education abroad.” Exchange programs for each batch will be running for a maximum of one year to allow students to attend lectures, seminars, and tutorials from their partner university, as explained during the meeting.
The MOA signing was followed by UTP’s presentation on their facilities and programs such as their alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as well as their recent performance on mobility programmes on research attachment. The presentation also expounded on UTP’s faculties centering on Engineering and Science and Information Technology, maintaining its “high quality of undergraduate education and innovative research environment.”
