BAGUIO CITY – The University of Baguio (UB) and the San Antonio-based University of Texas (UT) recently entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that will enhance their educational exchange program both for students and professionals to foster camaraderie, collaboration and mutual understanding.
The said agreement is an offshoot of the sisterhood relationship between Baguio and San Antonio, Texas that was formalized on July 13, 2023.
Under the said agreement, both the UB and UT Health Science Center established a cooperative relationship in the development of academic, cultural study abroad programs and exchange, and other mutual interests and agreed to encourage direct contact and cooperation between their faculty, students and research staff.
Further, both institutions agreed on the various courses of action such as non-degree academic programs, including student exchange and specially designed study abroad programs, visits by interchange of staff and faculty for research and teaching, collaborative research activities, including grant writing, exchange of non-proprietary information which includes but not limited to the exchange of library resources and research publication, curriculum development, collaboration with continuing education and other training programs and promoted the United nations Sustainable Development goals which seek to transform the world.
The goal of the aforesaid collaborative effort between the two institutions is to end poverty and inequality, protect the environment and ensure that very man has access to health, justice and prosperity.
In 2022, Baguio and San Antonio entered into an initial friendship agreement before the same was elevated to a sisterhood agreement that was formalized by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nerinberg in simple ceremonies held on July 13, 2023.
Last year, UB hosted a delegation of exchange students and faculty from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio that paved the way for the finalization of the said agreement.
The signed MOA between the two institutions was also formally turned over to the Communities Aligning Baguio and San Antonio, Texas (CABSAT) Education Committee during fitting ceremonies held at the UB gymnasium last Sunday.
Part of the program that was conducted at the UB gymnasium was a demonstration of the taekwondo skills of athletes from both institutions that will spice up their collaboration for sports in the future. By Dexter A. See
