by Michelle Jeanne Caracut, OC/OPI
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) donated to MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (IIT) a 2020 Xpander Cross to be used as a training vehicle under the School-Industry Tie-up Program for Automotive Technology of MMPC.
The donation was also made as part of MMPC’s corporate social responsibility and to demonstrate its socio-civic consciousness.
The donation was executed through a Memorandum of Understanding and a Deed of Donation between MMPC, represented by its Senior Vice President, Mr. Yasuki Maruyama, and MSU-IIT, represented by Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol.
“Industry-academe linkage is very important in the pursuit of the tri-mandate of instruction, research, and extension. In MSU-IIT, our partnership with the industry goes beyond OJT and employment purposes,” Chancellor Tanggol said.
In the agreement, both parties agreed to create a mutually beneficial arrangement where they can perform their respective mandates and attain their respective objectives; to design and implement the programs pertaining to the on-site training of the automotive instructors and students of MSU – IIT; and for MMPC to assist MSU – IIT in improving its training workshop area, among other things.
The agreement also stipulated the roles and responsibilities of both parties who shall jointly implement the said program for the automotive technology instructors of MSU – IIT. The program is designed to provide essential training to automotive instructors and students of MSU – IIT in order to enhance and upgrade their knowledge, theories, skills and competencies in automotive technology.
To ensure that the training vehicle shall only be utilized for the purpose that it is donated, MMPC imposed certain conditions in the Deed of Donation that the Xpander Cross should not be used for any personal or private interest other than training purposes under the tie-up program.
The deed also specified that MSU-IIT shall ensure that the training vehicle is kept in good working condition at all times.
The training vehicle was formally turned over to the University on December 17, 2020 through a virtual program. MMPC’s Senior Vice President Maruyama and Senior Manager Gideon C. Bruno turned over the ceremonial key to representatives of MSU-IIT, namely, College of Engineering and Technology Dean Noel Estoperez, Asst. Dean Erman Marajas, Assoc. Prof. Samson F. Amba, Jr., and Asst. Prof. Lad Labrada of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Technology.
The MSU-IIT team picked up the Xpander Cross on March 27, 2020 at Cagayan de Oro City and brought it to the campus.