Palawan State University headed by Dr. Ramon M. Docto, University President, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the officials of Diakonia University of Applied Science from Helsinki, Finland headed by Dr. Pirjo Hakala, the Vice President for Academic Affairs yesterday, September 18, at the Office of the University President Conference Room.
Alongside with the University President are the other key officials and deans of different colleges including Dr. Elucila M. Sespeñe – Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), Dr. Amabel S. Liao – Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA), Dr. Marjorie A. Española – Vice President for Research, Development and Extension (VPRDE), Dr. Judy Ann V. Sarail – Director, Transnational Education, International Affairs and Linkages Office (TNEIALO), Prof. Ana N. Javarez – Director, Faculty and Staff Development Office (FSDO), Prof. Judith M. Pasion, Focal Person for Transnational Education, Prof. Jun Consad – OIC – Dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS), Prof. Jhoanna V. Tabi – OIC-Chairperson, CNHS Nursing Department, Prof. Jazzel Dyana Liz Zerrudo – Associate Dean, College of Arts and Humanities (CAH), Prof. Gemma Geriane – Program Head, CAH Social Work Program, Mr. Francisco O. Baluyut III – Human Resource Management Officer (HRMO), and Prof. Melissa Olit – Director, Special Events and Protocol Office (SEPO).
Meanwhile, together with VP Hakala are the other officials of the university such as Ms. Päivi Conlin – Dean, Health Sciences Department, Ms. Paula Ropponen – Senior Lecturer, Health Sciences, and Ms. Margarita S. Latvala – Senior Lecturer, Health Sciences.
Spearheaded by TNEIALO headed by Dr. Sarail, and the FSDO headed by Prof. Javarez, the visit and meeting of DIAK to PSU engaged in discussions about potential academic partnerships, collaborative research initiatives, and student exchange programs.
PSU and DIAK aspires to have fruitful collaborations including the creation of cooperation in Nursing and Social Services/Work Education within the existing degree programs, sharing of expertise and experiences in the development of new pedagogies and learning technologies or any other topic relevant to both parties, the undertaking of joint programs for faculty and staff development, and the launching of joint academic ventures in research, innovation, development, and extension activities such as community engagement and the like in the fields of health and social sciences. They also aim to look for opportunities and funding for student, faculty, and staff exchanges, develop paths for career opportunities in Finland for the PSU nursing graduates interested in this possibility, to look for possibilities of including Finnish in the Foreign language offering of PSU, and to undertake joint programs for Transnational Education Curricula for Nursing and Social Work.
These are all done for quality education, providing equal opportunities for relevant, innovative, and advanced studies for lifelong learning and sustainable development of every PSUan.
