27 September 2022: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and Isabela State University (ISU), Echague, Isabela, Philippines, to enable cooperation between the institutions for professional capacity building, joint research, training, and academic exchanges.
Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) at AIT and Atty. Romano P. Cammayo, Vice President for Administration & Finance Services at ISU, signed the MoU.
Highlighting various potential areas of collaboration, Prof. Dhakal expressed AIT’s interest in supporting the capacity building of ISU and invited ISU staff and students at AIT. He said, “There is a huge prospect of collaboration, especially for joint research and exchange. This partnership already has a good start, and we want to see how we can take this forward.”
Atty. Romano P. Cammayo, Vice President for Administration & Finance Services, ISU, expressed delight on behalf of ISU towards this new partnership. He noted, “Through this collaboration, we will be able to achieve our common goal of excellence in academics and research. In addition, this agreement is a gateway to numerous opportunities to strengthen our program and initiatives together and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals”.
The activities under the scope of this MoU are:
- Development and implementation of Capacity Building Ph.D. / Master’s Program.
- Short-term experiential exchanges and research visits in the following categories: undergraduate and graduate students (summer/winter camps), non-teaching and post-graduate fellows, and faculty members.
- Short course training, workshop, and learning program.
- Sharing information and materials in those fields that interest both universities.
- Organizing joint conferences, seminars, and events.
- Joint research activities and publications.
Participants in this MoU signing ceremony from AIT included Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA); Prof. Dieter Trau, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology (SET); Dr. Krishna R. Salin, Associate Professor and Program Chair, Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management; Dr. Mohana Sundaram Shanmugam, Assistant Professor, Water Engineering and Management; Dr. Christopher Garnier, Executive Director of AIT Extension; Mr. Shawn P. Kelly, Director, Office of International Affairs (OIA); Mr. Sanjeet Amatya, Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs (OPA) and Ms. Indra Kumari, Senior Program Officer. Similarly, participants from ISU included Atty. Romano P. Cammayo, Vice President for Administration & Finance Services; Dr. Boyet L. Batang, Vice President for Academic and Related Affairs; Dr. Orlando F. Balderama, Vice President for Research Development Extension and Training and Ms. Marissa Hernando Valdez.
The then President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, established the Isabela State University (ISU) through the Presidential Decree (P.D.) 1434 on June 10, 1978. The ISU is committed to developing globally competitive human and technological resources and services through quality instruction, innovative research, responsive community engagement, and viable resource management programs for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
