By Dr. Feliciano B. Alagao
The prestigious ASEAN University Network/Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network (AUN/SEED-Net) has accepted the MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) through the College of Engineering (COE) into its roster of elite universities.
The MSU-IIT’s inclusion as Member Institution (MI) was approved in the 19th AUN/SEED-Net Steering Committee Meeting and 2012 Annual Meeting held in Indonesia last September 21, 2012.
With the MSU-IIT were six other institutions whose memberships were approved in this body: (Indonesia) University of Indonesia and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, (Malaysia) Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia, and (Thailand) Kasetsart University and Thammasat University from Thailand. Also during this meeting, three other famous universities in Japan became new members of the Japanese Supporting University Consortium (JSUC): Nagoya University, Osaka University, and Tohoku University. (see related news at http://www.seed-net.org/news_pop.php?id=140)
MSU-IIT is the 3rd university from the Philippines accepted to the network after the memberships of the University of the Philippines – Diliman and the De La Salle University.
The AUN/SEED-Net, a sub-network in the field of Engineering under the ASEAN University Network (AUN), was established in 2001 counting 19 MIs in the ASEAN and 11 other supporting Universities in Japan. Its vision is the promotion of sustainable social and economic development in ASEAN countries. The network is mainly supported by the Japanese Government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and partially supported by the ASEAN Foundation and the governments of the ASEAN countries through their Member Institutions (Information in www.seed-net.org).
The MSU-IIT joins the Phase III Project of the AUN/SEED-Net which begins in March 2013 expected to advance the global reach of the industry in the ASEAN through the promotion of university-industry collaborative activities. Common regional issues will be addressed through collaborative researches, conferences, and programs. Furthermore, the Project will continue to enhance education and research among member institutions producing highly-qualified faculty and staff members, promoting research and facilitating the mobility of students around the region and with Japan.
Among the activities the MSU-IIT is expected to actively implement under Phase III are the promotion of university-industry linkages (either with local or Japanese industries), academic conferences, collaborative research, graduate degree scholarships, research fellowships, short term visits of academics, joint international graduate programs, and activities that shall strengthen the network.
Mr. Nobuyuki Konishi, Deputy Chief Advisor of AUN/SEED-Net, with Mr. Shinishi Masuda and Ms. Mary Ann Bakisan, the Senior Representative and Program Officer, respectively, of JICA-Philippines, met with Chancellor Sukarno Tanggol, institute officials, and the COE faculty last October 18, 2012. Tanggol welcomed the guests and thanked them for accepting the Institute as new MI of the network. COE Dean Feliciano Alagao introduced MSU-IIT and the COE through a power point presentation. Konishi for his part discussed the AUN/SEED-Net, its accomplishments in the first two phases, and the different plans and activities laid down for Phase III.
Konishi later invited Chancellor Tanggol and Dean Alagao to attend the Signing Ceremony of the “Cooperative Framework” of AUN/SEED-Net for Phase III in Bangkok, Thailand on November 29, 2012.
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