The Mindanao Polytechnic State College (MPSC) signs a Memorandum of Understanding with AIT on 29 October. The MoU was signed between
Dr. Ricardo Rotoras (above, second from left), Rector of MPSC and Prof. Said Irandoust (right), AIT President.
The MoU enables cooperation between AIT and MPSC for academic areas of mutual interests and to work together in human resources development and capacity building. In particular, a subsequent MOA will also be signed for double degree two-stage masters program between AIT and MPSC to be funded by the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Commission of Higher Education (CHED).
The program is planned to start with the Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Engineering field of Study in the School of Engineering and Technology either in January or August 2008.
MPSC is a level 4 academic institution with more than 7,000 students, about ten percent of whom are in their graduate studies. MPSC is conveniently located in Cagayan de Oro City, the gateway in this fast growing economy region of Northern Mindanao. MPSC is a member of the Mindanao Association of State Colleges and Universities comprised of 25 institutions.
Dr. Ricardo Rotoras is an AIT alumnus from the Energy Planning and Policy field of study, School of Environment, Resources and Development. He was then the
Dean of College of Engineering of MPSC during his studies and until he graduated his doctoral studies in August 2002. His recent visit brings honor for AIT and recognizes him as the first AIT alumnus and the youngest rector ever in a major academic institution in the Philippines.
Dr. Rotoras will also help liaise in promoting the recently announced 2-stage DOST scholarships with the rectors of the other colleges in his region. He said that his fellow rectors are also interested to host an AIT Center in that region and will discuss this endeavour further with DOST and CHED.
AIT would like to thank Professor Dennes T. Bergado (above, left) for his active role in this important initiative.