The President of Isabela State University (Philippines), Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino, and their International Director, Dr. Isagani P. Angeles Jr., visited NPUST on December 12 (2022) and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang, formally establishing a sister school relationship between the two academic institutions and thereby opening a new page for exchange and cooperation.

Isabela State University, which was founded in 1978, currently has 9 campuses and around 40,000 students. The main purpose of their visit was to establish a sister school partnership with NPUST and promote academic cooperation and exchanges between the two parties.

In order to begin exploring potential starting points, President Chang specially invited College of Agriculture Dean Jue-Liang Hsu, International College Dean J.C. Leong, Department of Animal Science Director Chi Yu, Vice-Dean Yuh Tzean of the NPUST Office of International Affairs, and Aquatic Animal Health Professor Byadgi Omkar Vijay to participate in the discussions.

At the meeting, the Isabela State representatives proposed a general direction for future cooperation, including student exchange internships and the possible establishment of dual master’s degree programs with the NPUST departments of Animal Science and Aquaculture. They also invited President Chang and interested professors to the Philippines to participate in an international conference on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction management.

The meeting came to a successful close, with parties intimating that they would maintain contact via their international affairs offices as they work to establish bridges of cooperation based on mutual trust and reciprocity. Hopes are to see the development of substantive exchanges between teachers and students from both universities as this new chapter of cooperation begins to take form.