Started under CatSU President, Dr. Minerva I. Morales’ term, another batch of qualifiers from Catanduanes State University (CatSU) is off to Canada as scholars under the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) program. Its first batch was recently completed last July 2020 by non-teaching staff, Mr. John Edmund P. Manlagnit of the University’s Public Relations and Media Communications Services (PRMCS) Office. In an advisory, Ms Le Li, Senior International Specialist in the International Office of the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, informed the CatSU through its Director for International Affairs, Dr. Joseph G. Zafe, that Prof. Abelisa D. Evangelista and Engr. Dexter M. Toyado both qualified as recipients of the SEED program. The two faculty members received their scholarship by Global Affairs Canada in the 2020 SEED scholarship competition for research at the University of Saskatchewan from January 5, 2021 until June 30, 2021. Prof. Evangelista is currently Director of CatSU’s Abaca Technology Innovation Center (ATIC), while Engr. Toyado is Director of the Center for Climate Change Solutions. The SEED grantees paid their courtesy visit to the Officer -in-Charge President of CatSU, Dr, Freddie T. Bernal along with International Relations Director and Mr. Manlagnit, the first batch scholarship grantee. The SEED program provides students from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions at the college, undergraduate and graduate levels. Funding for SEED scholarships is made available by Global Affairs Canada through its legal title, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD). The Canadian institution will receive funding from DFATD for all successful candidates in the form of a contribution agreement and will be responsible for providing the funds for scholarship recipients.
The Catanduanes State University (CSU) has been listed as one of the new members of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization- Technical Education and Vocational Training (SEA-TVET/SEA-Polytechnic) among Colleges, Polytechnics and Universities of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. This was bared on February 4, 2020 by Dr. Joseph G. Zafe, Director of CSU’s International Relations and Continuing Professional Development Services (IRCPDS) Office. This enlistment is geared for the 5th Batch of SEA-TVET/SEA-Polytechnic Student Exchange in 2020. Along with this, a meeting on Student Internship Program (SIP) among the faculty was held February 10, 2020 at the Graduate School Student Lounge. Dr. Minerva I. Morales, CSU President, signed the Letter of Agreement concerning the Program as one of the new members. To date, there are around 152 member institutions in the program including the CSU across the ASEAN countries. The CSU’s joining in the list strengthened its internalization efforts, giving way for more opportunities and advancement in the different study areas. It was revealed that the agreement will be implemented in reciprocal way. The 5th batch of SEA-TVET/SEA-Polytechnic Student Exchange Programme will be applied for Diploma and Bachelor students. The major study areas included, but not limited to the following: Mechatronics, Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical and Manufacturing; Industrial Technology, Informatics/ Computer Science, Hospitality and Tourism; Agriculture, Aquaculture, Animal Science, Fisheries; Agro Technology/ Agro Business; Food Technology, Business, Commerce and Accounting; Creative Industry, Multimedia, Civil Engineering, Health Science/ Nursing and Public Health. It was revealed that each participating institution should submit the list of eligible students for at least 2 students with the same gender in equal number, but not more than 6 students in the identified study area with the name of potential partners to SEAMO Secretariat for mapping. The institutions, as bared by Dr. Zafe, will start the 5th batch of exchange for 1 to 3 months, anytime within the preferred traveling schedule or options within the span of March until August 2020. A pre-requisite to travel of students is an International Health Insurance, while Receiving Institutions may advance expenses for hospitalization, in any case, subject to the reimbursement by parents. It was also learned that under this program, the Receiving Institution will primarily be responsible for partnering with industries according to the study areas and agreed internship period of inbound students, aside from providing mentors, accommodations, and buddies for inbound students.
