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The UST Graduate School conducted a web conversation on Diplomacy and Education with educator-diplomat Prof. Wellington Wei, Ph.D., as guest speaker. The web conversations were held on November 27, 2021.
Wei, who holds a doctorate in Political Science, Magna cum laude graduate, is a filial alumnus of the University of Santo Tomas, and of Cheng Chi University. He has been teaching at the Ming Chuan University in Taiwan. He shared his decades-long diplomatic journey, and his insights into education.
Wei underscored the role of education in the honing and fortifying skills in diplomacy, use of soft power and promotion of respect, and understanding by way of cultural diplomacy, among others. He mentioned that in his various diplomatic posts, he has upheld Thomasian values. Wei was a Visiting Professor of the University of Santo Tomas.
The web conversations were followed by a sharing from a distinguished panel of reactors who contributed their expertise in the various areas of education, political science and culture.
The Members of the Panel were: UST Education High School Principal Marielyn Quintana, Ph.D.; President of the Philippine Political Science Association and Department of Political Science Chair Dennis C. Coronacion, Ph.D.; GS Ethics Research Committee and Student Welfare Development Board member Emmanuel Batoon, Ph.D.; and UST Graduate School and Faculty of Arts and Letters faculty member Noel L. Lansang, Ph.D.
Participants from the Graduate School included Rev. Fr. Augusto O. Abril, GS Regent Rev. Fr. Rodel E. Aligan, O.P., Asst. Dean Prof. Camilla J. Vizconde, Ph.D., Program Lead Prof. Belén L. Tangco, OP, Ph.D., GS Faculty Secretary Dr. Elizabeth H. Arenas, Political Science doctoral student Ms. Jennylyn G. Cabbuag, Asst. Prof. Emmanuel Jeric A. Albela of UST Research Center for Culture, Arts & Humanities, Mr. Jeremiah Elegado, Mr. Roger Christopher R. Reyes, and Mr. Rafael Labariento, and Political Science students, among others.
Patrick Q. Bugarin, OP, who holds a Ph.D., in International Relations from Cheng Chi University, Taiwan, and a Filipino scholar-student of Dr. Wei for years, also participated in the webinar.
UST Graduate School Dean Prof. Michael Anthony C. Vasco, Ph.D., in his Closing Remarks, shared the broad spectrum of relations between UST and Taiwan. The academic ties with Taiwan universities, specially the Fu Jen Catholic University, and the academic visits fruitfully made, including guest lectures and Visiting Professorship agreements only further strengthened the friendship and academic bonds between UST and Taiwan universities and research centers.
