Asst. Prof. Dr. Mary Grace C. Sedanza, faculty member of the Institute of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS-IA), University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) participated in the recently concluded 2024 US-PH Global Partnership Workshop held in-person on August 28-29, 2024 in Metro Manila.
Sedanza, CFOS Coordinator for External Linkages and director of the UP Visayas Regional Research Center, was one of the first set of 30 selected participants to join the said training workshop primarily conducted for Philippine higher education institution leaders organized by Philippine-American Educational Foundation (Fulbright Commission in the Philippines) and in collaboration with the USA Study Abroad.
The training workshop, which was attended by representatives from the private and public sectors as well as Philippine HEIs, was designed to broaden the participants’ perspectives on global collaborations and strengthen their capacity to participate in academic exchanges and study abroad programs between the Philippines and the US.
Themed “Advancing Internationalization and Continuing Engagements between the US and Philippine Higher Education Institutions,” the workshop was facilitated by experts from the US on global partnerships, linkages, study abroad and international education.
“The recently concluded workshop brings with it new opportunities in fostering collaborative relationships between higher education institutions from the US and the Philippines that are essential for promoting cultural exchange, academic excellence, and global innovation. UPV’s Internationalization engagement in the said workshop highlights its commitment to a transformative educational landscape in the Philippines that not only advances its distinct teaching-research-service mission and culture but also contributes to the collective effort in solving global challenges,” says Sedanza.
CFOS has several faculty members who completed their graduate studies in the US.
Those who obtained their PhD degrees as Fulbright scholars include Prof. Dr. Mae Grace G. Nillos, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rhoda Mae C. Simora, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Farisal Ungkakay-Bagsit.
Nillos got her PhD in Environmental Toxicology from University of California-Riverside. Simora received her PhD in Fisheries from Auburn University in Alabama, and Bagsit gained her PhD in Coastal Resource Management from East Carolina University in North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Prof. Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap earned her MS in Food Science from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York as Fellow of the World Bank-International Bank for Rural Development Fellowship Program. Prof. Dr. Ricardo P. Babaran completed his MS Engineering at the University of Washington and Assoc. Prof. Caridad N. Jimenez got her MS Fisheries (Hatchery Management) from Auburn University.
Furthermore, Ms. Byrille Tiara Galon is now pursuing an MS degree in Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences at Auburn University.
CFOS likewise had collaborations with US universities. (With sources from Asst. Prof. Dr. Mary Grace Sedanza)
