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OFFICE
OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
RATIONALE
As
a chartered institution of higher learning in the province, Batangas
State University (BSU) believes that the provision of quality and
relevant education may become more efficient and competent if internationalization
of teaching, research, and scholarship of faculty and staff is promoted
and enhanced.
The
BSU academic community has always looked forward to establishing
strong linkages with foreign universities/institutions in order
to enrich the quality of BSU instruction and research as well as
provide opportunities for sharing its expertise with these highly
reputed institutions. Quite naturally, the meaning of the expression
“World-Class”, especially in the realm of higher education
institutions, bring the idea that such institution “has obtained
a standard which is universally accepted as superior” and therefore
has the ability to attract a significant number of stakeholder.
It
is for this rationale that the Office of International Affairs (OIA)
was created. To established international partnerships and academic
linkages with world-renowned universities and other academic institutions
abroad is its primary interest. Essentially, the office recognizes
the immediate need for higher education institution like BSU to
keep abreast with the demands for development, particularly in the
enrichment of faculty knowledge and skills in research, science,
information and communication technology. In the process of acquisition
of new learning, BSU could be in a better position to address the
crucial global issues of international peace and understanding,
equitable social and economic development, and improvement in a
competitive world market system. This global perspective may provide
the foundation for the development of curricula responsive to the
demands of a rapidly changing society. As such, the Office of International
Affairs serves as a central repository of information on international
institutional activities and on the university’s linkages around
the globe.
GOALS
In
order to strengthen and broaden linkages with institutions of higher
learning and other agencies abroad in the fields of instruction,
research, and other areas of cooperation, BSU’s Office of International
Affairs aims to:
1. Work closely
with other units and with the University’s central administration
to institutionalize global education. This is done by streamlining
policies and practices to facilitate funding for international travel
and involvement by BSU faculty and staff.
2.
Help institutionalize BSU faculty and staff through interactions
with international counterparts by carefully choosing partner institutions
for comprehensive, mutually beneficial relationships like faculty
exchanges, visiting professorship, and joint research.
3.
Serve as BSU’s liaison office for international activities,
providing an outlet for faculty interested in being involved in
externally funded projects.
MANDATE
Formally
created by the Board of Trustees on April, 2001, the OIA is primarily
mandated to:
1. Identify
complementary areas of interest in the educational curriculum through
extensive research, study and consultation with the universities
and units concerned.
2. Study and evaluate request for joint programs and/for consortium
arrangements.
3. Explore various external educational foundations and tap them
for funding assistance as in the case research fellowships and scholarships.
CREATING
LINKAGES
Batangas
State University (BSU) formerly Pablo Borbon Memorial Institute
of Technology (PBMIT) has maintained its linkages with a number
of international institutions for the last ten years. Like other
institutions of higher learning, BSU’s international Linkages
began with informal ties between scholars of foreign institutions
and BSU’s faculty members or in some other cases, through the
university’s local consortium with other universities. These
linkages are classified under informal linkages of BSU.
The
so-called ‘official’ or formal linkages of BSU may be
created through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) or
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between or among overseas institutions.
These specify the nature, duration, terms and conditions of the
academic exchange. The president of the university may initiate
linkages during foreign visits or upon receiving guests/officials
from other institutions. Also, other links may be created by the
Colleges/Departments with foreign universities in which they have
similar or common programs.
Linkages
normally take the form of faculty exchange and/or visiting professorship,
joint research programs, and exchange of academic materials.
REQUIREMENTS
FOR FORMAL LINKAGE
1.
MOA/MOU (for either short-term or long-term agreements)
2. Consortium Agreement
(for consortium arrangements)
3. Government of
the Philippines Bilateral/Multilateral Agreements
CURRENT LINKAGE
The
BSU-Daejon Theological Seminary and College joint program is the
first formal international linkage of the University. The program,
which began in October 2001, includes the offering of an intensive
course in AB Philosophy among Korean scholars and an opportunity
for BSU faculty members to conduct lectures abroad, thereby giving
them international exposure.
The
MOA between BSU and Daejon Theological Seminary and College (DTSC)
was signed in June 13, 2001. Two representatives from each institution
(BSU President and Vice President for Administration and Finance,
and DTSC’s Dean of Academic Affairs and College Correspondent
to the Philippines) were present to officially commence the program.
This program
covers the teaching of the following subjects areas:
Philosophy
Conversational English
for Non-English-Speaking Students
Philippine History
and Culture
Economics and Management
The
first batch of Korean students have complied with the requirements
of the course and joined the commencement exercises in March 24,
2002. For the next five years, the joint program is hoped to strengthen
academic benefits and mutual cooperation between the Philippines
and South Korea.
TARGET LINKAGES
- School of Education,
Flinders University of South Australia
- India
- John F. Kennedy
School of Government, Harvard
- Poham University,
South Korea
- School of Comparative
Education, City University of Hong Kong
Inquiries
may be directed to:
Director, Office
of International Affairs
2nd Floor, Administration
Building,
Batangas State University
Main Campus 1,
Batangas City, Philippines
Email: bsu@batstate-u.edu.ph
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