In its effort to build more international collaborations, administrators from the University of Santo Tomas met with officials from the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) of Taiwan to explore possible partnerships and form collaborations related to selected programs under the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Engineering, and the College of Science. This encounter happened on October 11, 2022, at the fourth floor of the Bl. Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.
In his welcome remarks, Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P., EHL, Secretary-General emphasized the importance of such endeavors to address the need to advance internationalization efforts as part of directional areas of the University and the seven-point agenda of the Father Rector.
Fr. Coronel also highlighted internationalization efforts with Taiwan, particularly with NCKU. He made mention of the inbound and outbound faculty mobility and transnational research efforts through the Office of International Relations and Programs (OIRP) where academic staff from the College of Science and the Graduate School were featured.
The Taiwan delegation, led by the Associate Vice President for International Affairs Prof. Li Yueh-Heng, was divided into groups where they had an opportunity to interact with academic or administrative officials from the Office of International Relations and Programs with its Director Prof. Lilian J. Sison, Ph.D., and the Office for Admissions led by its Director Assoc. Prof. Imelda A. Dakis, M.D. Representing the academic units were the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Dean Assoc. Prof. Ma. Lourdes D. Maglinao, M.D., Faculty of Engineering Dean Prof. Angelo dela Cruz, Ph.D., and the College of Science Dean Prof. Rey Donne S. Papa, Ph.D. The research cluster was also represented through the Research Center for Health Sciences Supervisor Prof. Consuelo G. Suarez, M.D., Ph.D.
Also present during the interaction were Prof. Philipina A. Marcelo, Ph.D., Assistant to the Rector for UST Santa Rosa; Assoc. Prof. Ryan Cayubit, Ph.D., Assistant Director for the Office of Admissions; Mr. Reuel M. Bennet, Dr.rer.nat, Microbiology Coordinator; Asst. Prof. Nelson M. Pasamonte, PME, ASEAN Eng, Chairperson of Mechanical Engineering; Prof. Maria Natalia Dimaano, Ph.D., Program Lead for the Engineering Cluster UST Graduate School; Dr. Julie Li Yu, Academic Staff, Master in Public Health International; and Asst. Prof. Anthony James Bautista, DT, Faculty of Engineering Assistant Dean.
The interaction culminated with a report from each group where points of possible collaboration were presented.
