Herman Lagon
In a significant development for Southeast Asian education, the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) and Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD) of Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Friday, August 23, 2024, at West Visayas State University. This agreement focuses on the three pillars of higher education: education and teaching, research, and community service.
The partnership between ISUFST and UAD is not a new venture. Last year, the two institutions collaborated under the SEAMEO SEA-Teacher Student Exchange Program. During that time, ISUFST sent six pre-service students to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, while UAD sent three pre-service students to Iloilo for a month-long internship and cultural exchange. Facilitated by the ISUFST Dumangas Campus team and the Office of International Affairs and Linkages then, the UAD students completed their internship at the St. Augustine Catholic School in Dumangas, Iloilo, while ISUFST’s six pre-service teachers completed theirs in a basic education school in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr., the University President of ISUFST, led the ISUFST team, while UAD was represented by Dr. Muhammad Sayuti, Dean of the Faculty of Teacher Training, along with Dr. Ani Susanti, Vice Dean of Human Resources, and Dr. Rifky Dora Wijayati, Secretary of the English Education Master’s Study Program.
The MOA signing held at West Visayas State University included discussions on potential faculty and student mobility, research and extension collaborations, curricular twinning, and other forms of partnerships. Dr. Siason emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, “This agreement marks another milestone in our continuous pursuit of academic excellence and global collaboration. We are committed to fostering meaningful exchanges that will benefit both our institutions and the broader community.”
Dr. Siason also added that such collaborations are essential in “bridging educational gaps and enriching the experiences of our students and faculty.”
For his part, UAD’s Dr. Sayuti expressed their unwavering commitment to the partnership, highlighting that UAD sees this collaboration as a crucial step in expanding their educational reach and enhancing their international footprint. They are dedicated to ensuring that the partnership yields fruitful outcomes for both institutions.
The signing of this agreement solidifies the ongoing relationship between ISUFST and UAD, with both institutions looking forward to a future filled with collaborative success in education, research, and community service. (Text by Dr. Herman Lagon/Photos by Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr.PAMMCO)
