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Zamayla joins University of Tennessee in Knoxville, USA as Visiting Researcher

Zamayla joins University of Tennessee in Knoxville, USA as Visiting Researcher

by | Jun 26, 2023 | Main News & Updates

Asst. Prof. Arnel Zamayla, faculty member of the College of Engineering and Director of the MSU-IIT Fab Lab Mindanao has been selected as Visiting Researcher at the University of Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville, USA.

According to Zamayla, whose contract runs from August 2023 until January 2024, will conduct research on AI Application in 3D printing of polymers and advanced biomaterials, and on the development of armor for personnel and homeland security. He said that this research holds immense promise for transforming multiple industries and pushing the boundaries of technological innovation.

Out of the sixty (60) pre-screened applicants who applied all over the country, Zamayla was chosen as the lone grantee in Mindanao to represent MSU-IIT and Fab Lab Mindanao abroad. The screening process included an oral exam, submission of a research proposal, and an evaluation from a highly-trained technical Committee. Among the applicants were researchers, project leaders, and faculty from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional offices, S&T government offices, and private and public HEIs like De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines-Diliman, and Philippine Space Agency.

While at UT, Zamayla will also undergo specialized training in additive manufacturing, harnessing the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence. This training will equip him with the computational techniques necessary to optimize the additive manufacturing process, improve material selection, enhance quality control, optimize designs, and enable predictive maintenance. By merging advanced technologies, these applications will unlock the full potential of additive manufacturing, propelling it to new heights. While undergoing training at UT he will also have access to Oakridge National Laboratory (ORNL) which is a National Laboratory in the US.

Zamayla will be supervised by his program lead, Rigoberto Advincula, Ph.D., UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair of Advanced and Nanostructured Materials, who is a leading figure in the field of advanced materials, polymers, and nanomaterials.

Zamayla is receiving funding support from the DOST in this endeavor. The Advanced Manufacturing Center of the Philippines (AMCen) will be providing Zamayla access to its state-of-the-art equipment during the research implementation.

ChanZed to speak at Times Higher Education Summit in HongKong

ChanZed to speak at Times Higher Education Summit in HongKong

by | Jun 26, 2023 | Main News & Updates

 

Chancellor Alizedney M. Ditucalan is set to speak at the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Universities Summit at The Chinese University of Hong Kong on June 22, 2023.

Chancellor Ditucalan, or ChanZed as he is known on campus, will discuss the untapped potential of industry micro-credentials and blended learning. His talk aims to shed light on how these educational tools can significantly enhance skills mastery and create meaningful connections between graduates and employment opportunities in Asia’s thriving digital economy.

Joining him in this plenary session called “Advancing higher education in Asia with industry micro-credentials and blended learning” are Phil Baty, Chief Global Affairs Officer of the THE; Eklavya Bhave, Regional Director (APAC and Japan) of Coursera; Kaywalee Chatdarong, Vice-President of Strategic Planning, Innovation and Global Engagement of Chulalongkorn University; and Noor Azam Haji-Othman, Dean of the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

Hosted in partnership with The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the THE Asia Universities Summit 2023 will focus on the fundamental question – is there such a thing as a distinctly “Asian” university in such an economically, culturally and socially diverse region? The summit also intends to explore the concept of an Asian university in the year 2050.

Accompanying Chancellor Ditucalan at the THE Asia Universities Summit are Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, Pamela F. Resurreccion, and Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs, Nancy Q. Echavez. The MSU-IIT delegation, together with MSU President Atty. Basari D. Mapupuno, the Chancellors of various MSU campuses, and other officials, comprise the MSU System delegation.

The THE is widely regarded as the most credible and influential provider of knowledge pertaining to higher education worldwide. Its World University Rankings stand out as the sole comprehensive global assessment of prestigious universities, evaluating their excellence in essential areas such as teaching, research, knowledge dissemination, and international perspective. The primary objective of THE is to establish itself as the definitive and unparalleled source of data, profound understanding, and expertise on higher education on a global scale. THE’s foundation rests on an extensive collection of 10 million data points sourced from 2,500 institutions spanning 93 countries. Additionally, it possesses an unparalleled wealth of news, insights, and intelligence, and has cultivated a trusted relationship with universities over a span of 50 years (timeshighereducation.com).

OVCAF turnover of leadership held

OVCAF turnover of leadership held

by | Feb 28, 2023 | Main News & Updates

“My promise to you is we will do our best to protect what you have helped to build in IIT”.

This is what Chancellor Alizedney M. Ditucalan told outgoing Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Dr. Polaus M. Bari who retired January 28, 2023.

During last week’s turnover ceremony, and before key officials, faculty and staff of the University, Ditucalan thanked Dr. Bari “for inspiring excellence in the university”.

Dr. Bari handed over the stewardship of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance (OVCAF) on January 25, 2023, to Atty. Yaslani Bantuas, head of the Accounting Division, in a ceremony held at the University’s Mini-Theater.

Bari said that he was thankful to have worked and served MSU-IIT. Bari had been the longest-serving Vice Chancellor – having served three chancellors during his employment in the University.

In response, incoming VCAF Bantuas accepted the challenge, feeling glad and excited to assume a new and huge responsibility. During his acceptance speech, he shared four fundamentals he believed that he will carry on as he takes on the VCAF role.

According to the new VCAF, “no one has the monopoly on knowledge, and an individual’s perspective will never be dominant to another person’s perception.” He said balancing everyone’s perception, interactive and constant communication, and reconciliation are indispensable in achieving goals and targets.

Bantuas, both an accountant and lawyer, envisions financial freedom vis-a-vis financial resiliency in the University. He also believes that the law is an instrument to be used to foster change, sustainability, and growth, and it should be a framework to facilitate decision-making in the University.

Thirdly, he emphasized the need to strengthen and widen the understanding of the public service values of patriotism, integrity, excellence, and spirituality as mandated by the Civil Service Commission.

Lastly, he mentioned that ethics and morality are the keys to influencing the future. He said that ethics is an essential element in leadership and that rejections should be perceived as redirection, personal failures as lessons learned.

Bantuas’s stint as VCAF starts January 30, 2023.

Octava bags 3rd place in the 2023 Musikahan sa Tagum Choral Competition

Octava bags 3rd place in the 2023 Musikahan sa Tagum Choral Competition

by | Feb 28, 2023 | Main News & Updates

 

The University’s resident choir Octava Choral Society landed on the Top 3 podium out of 12 competing groups from around the country in the recently concluded Musikahan sa Tagum Choral Competition on February 18, 2023.

Under the baton of Prof. Ernesto Zaldua Jr., the Octava performed three choice songs namely Pamugun by Francisco Feliciano, Abendlied by Josef Rheinberger, Sing a Song of Sixpence by John Rutter, and one contest piece entitled Evening Love Song by Nikko Villanueva.

The Octava received P50,000.00 cash price and a Plaque of Excellence in Music from the City of Tagum. The other winners were Voces En Harmonie Chorale of Tagum City as the 2nd placer, and the University of Mindanao Davao Chorale taking the 1st place.

The judging panel was composed of experts in music namely, Dr. Arwin Tan, Ms. Anna Tabita-Abeleda Piquero, and Gador awardee Dr. Helen Tejero.

Belgium’s VLIR-UOS awards training grant to MSU-IIT and VSU to conduct International Training Program to promote environmental citizen science

Belgium’s VLIR-UOS awards training grant to MSU-IIT and VSU to conduct International Training Program to promote environmental citizen science

by | Feb 28, 2023 | Main News & Updates

 

The Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in the Philippines and Hasselt University (UHasselt) in Belgium have come together to collaborate on the International Training Programme (ITP) project in partnership with the Visayas State University (VSU) in the Philippines. This engagement is made possible through an agreement between the MSU-IIT and Hasselt University.

Since 2019, UHasselt has been in active collaboration and cooperation with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in capacity building, mentoring, and curriculum development. The ITP project is led by UHasselt Prof Dr. Thomas Neyens as the project promoter and Dr. Daisy Lou L. Polestico as principal  MSU-IIT co-promoter with Dr. Ruth P. Serquiña, Asso. Prof. Johniel E. Babiera, Dr. Bernadette F. Tubo, and Dr. Peter D. Suson as team members.

Other faculty members who have active involvement in the project are Asst. Prof. Amabelle A. Embornas, Asst. Prof. Jaime Q. Guihawan and Prof. Emeritus Olga M. Nuñeza.

The €150,000 ITP project entitled “Co-CiPhil: Co-creating environmental citizen science capacity in the Philippines” has been awarded to the MSU-IIT and VSU by the Flemish Interuniversity Council – University Development Cooperation (VLIR-UOS). This collaboration will result in the organization of a series of workshops in the Philippines over the next two years. The workshops will be co-organized by the three universities involved in the project.

CHS Board passers attend 2023 Oath taking Ceremony of New Nurses

CHS Board passers attend 2023 Oath taking Ceremony of New Nurses

by | Feb 28, 2023 | Main News & Updates

ILIGAN CITY — ASST. PROF. ABU AL-RASHEED T. TANGGOL announced that he is among 105 emerging leaders selected to join the Obama Foundation Leaders program. The program trains participants around the world in leadership development and civic engagement to help build their skills and scale their work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Asst. Prof. Tanggol will be one of just 35 Leaders participating in the Asia-Pacific program. This year’s Asia-Pacific cohort represents 22 countries/territories across the region.

Asst. Prof. Tanggol is a public policy, and peace and conflict resolution specialist. He is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology where he also serves as the director of the Center for Local Governance Studies. He obtained his Master in Public Policy degree from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore (NUS) as an NUS ASEAN graduate scholar and Philippine Commission on Higher Education scholar. He studied Juris Doctor at the University of the Philippines, Diliman and completed his degree at the Mindanao State University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration degree from the National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines, Diliman. His interests are in the areas of peace and conflict resolution, judicial reform, climate change action and disaster risk resilience, urban and transport policy, good governance, and education policy.

As part of the six-month, non-residential program, these dedicated changemakers will convene virtually each week for interactive sessions designed to help them drive change by honing their leadership skills, building deep relationships with their peers, and engaging with thought leaders and members of the Obama Foundation community. They will also have an opportunity to participate in various virtual experiences and special events, including one-on-one conversations with experienced mentors in the Foundation’s global network.

President Obama’s familial ties to the region, his time in Indonesia as a young man, and his upbringing in Hawai’i have informed his values and his faith in the passion of this generation of changemakers across the Asia Pacific region. Launched in 2019, the program is creating a network of leaders who drive positive, innovative change in their communities throughout the continent and across the globe. The 2023 cohort of Asia-Pacific leaders are working across a broad range of issues and focus areas, including the climate crisis, indigenous rights, education, and more.

The Obama Foundation Leaders program is designed to further inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders from Africa, Asia Pacific, and Europe to change their respective communities and the world. To learn more, visit obama.org/leaders.

To learn more about Asst. Prof. Abu Al-Rasheed T. Tanggol, visit linkedin.com/in/attanggol.

 

– Contributed news