Ankara 23 February 2022 – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippines’ Mindanao State University at Naawan (MSU-Naawan) and Turkey’s Ankara University (AU) at the latter’s campus on 22 February 2022.

(L-R) MSU-Naawan Chancellor Dr. Elnor C. Roa, Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Elena P. Algabre, Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar, the Dean of AU Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Hasan Hüseyin Atar, and Research Director of MSU-Naawan, Dr. Ruby Gonzales at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between MSU-Naawan and Ankara University (Photo Courtesy of Ankara University)

“Both the Philippines and Turkey recognize that education is a key to sustainable development for our people,” said Ambassador Maria Elena P. Algabre during her remarks. “Educational exchanges are good channels for understanding each other’s values and cultures,  and solidifies the friendship between the Philippines and Turkey,”she continued.

The MOU was signed by Dr. Elnor C. Roa, Chancellor of MSU-Naawan and Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar, Rector of Ankara University. Also present to witness the signing were Dr. Ruby Gonzales, Research Director of MSU-Naawan; Prof. Dr. Hasan Hüseyin Atar, Dean of AU’s Faculty of Agriculture, and other academic officials from the AU.

Signing of the MOU.  (Photo Courtesy of Ankara University)

This MOU is a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YOK) following the signing of the Protocol for Cooperation between these two institutions in 2018.

The MOU includes provisions on exchange of faculty and students, joint research projects, and exchange of scientific information pursuant to the terms of cooperation.

MSU-Naawan Chancellor Roa (4-L), Ambassador Algabre (5-L), Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Ünüvar (5-R) with faculty members of Ankara University (Photo Courtesy of Ankara University)

The MOU is one concrete output to implement the PH-initiated and CHED-funded project, “Development of Academic and Exchange Programs among the Universities in the Philippines and Turkey” in the fields of fisheries, aquaculture and marine science. CHED has assigned MSU-Naawan, which it has accorded recognition as Center of Excellence in Fisheries, to lead the project. On other hand, Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YOK) has designated AU, in particular its Faculty of Agriculture, to take the lead role as the counterpart of PH universities/colleges in the exchange programs.##