By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA
MANILA — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and James Cook University (JCU), one of the leading Australian learning institutions, on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on education, and research and development.
The document was signed by DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara and JCU Chancellor Bill Tweddell, with outgoing Australian Ambassador in the Philippines Amanda Gorley as witness.
Through the MOU, both parties will further develop their scientific and educational alliance in areas related to the tropics, such as marine sciences, biodiversity, global warming, natural resources, and tropical medicine and public healthcare.
The two parties agree to develop initiatives such as students and scientists’ exchanges, research and development, and exchange of technical documentation and information.
While discussions on crafting programs have yet to formally start, Guevara seeks to initiate an activity in Manila during the 2019 World Water Day celebration where JCU specialists can visit and observe.
“We believe the first activity will happen in the first quarter,” she told reporters.
“After the signing of the MOU, we will have agreements with some of the JCU researchers and some of their academic units on what kind of scholars we can send to them,” she added.
“For the research, we plan to invite some of their professors here so that they can discuss with our researchers the things that they can do together,” Guevarra said.
JCU was ranked in the top 2 percent of the world’s tertiary institutions by the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
Its leadership in marine science has also been acknowledged by the Silliman University when a Doctor of Science honoris causa was conferred to JCU professor Garry Russ. Russ was among the experts who shaped the country’s policy on No-Take Marine Reserves (NTMRs).
Tweddell, who also served as the previous Australian ambassador in Manila, said JCU is already working with three other DOST’s attached agencies –the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, and the Science Education Institute.
Though ties were already established a long time ago, an MOU is needed as Tweddell noted that “in some important ways, this relationship was quite underdone” in the interest of both the Philippines and the JCU.
