Universities Canada's Mission to the Philippines

About

Universities Canada, in collaboration with the Trade Commissioner Service in Manila, coordinated a mission for university presidents to the Philippines.

Universities Canada Mission to the Philippines looked to enhance the mutual understanding of the Canadian and Philippines higher education landscape to set the stage for long-term collaboration.

Under the theme of building sustainable partnerships, the mission will focus on facilitating partnerships that align with the outcomes of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a priority of both the Canadian and Philippine governments. As such, as the forum looked to:

identify institutional partnership opportunities in higher education and training, including increasing two-way student mobility between the two countries;
promote international research collaboration, including identifying opportunities to partner with the Philippine government, research institutes and the private sector and building the capacity of Philippine institutions to conduct cutting-edge research that helps develop the Philippine economy;
develop direct business-to-business opportunities for participants in the Philippines and to engage with Canadian institutions; and
build and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders in the Philippines, a priority country for both Universities Canada and the Government of Canada’s international education strategy.

Schedule

November 6, 2023

4 – 4:30 p.m.
Mission overview with Universities Canada and delegates

Philip Landon, interim president and CEO, Universities Canada

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Pre-briefing on the Philippines

Guy Boileau, senior trade commissioner, Embassy of Canada to the Philippines
Angel Cachuela, trade commissioner, Embassy of Canada to the Philippines

5:45 – 9 p.m.

Celebratory welcome dinner with the Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines, Canadian and Philippines delegates and the Department of Science and Technology Officials.

Philip Landon, interim president and CEO, Universities Canada
H.E. David Hartman, ambassador of Canada to the Philippines
Dr. Renato Solidum, Jr., DOST secretary

November 7, 2023

9 – 9:45 a.m.
Breakfast session

Introduction to the Asian Development Bank (https://www.adb.org/)

Closed presentation for Canadian delegation only. This session will include information on the ADB procurement system and thematic opportunities, including opportunities in education.

H.E. David Hartman, ambassador of Canada to the Philippines
Dr. Paul Mazerolle, president and vice-chancellor, University of New Brunswick and board member, Universities Canada
Mr. Donald Bobiash, executive director, ADB
Ms. Suzanne Gaboury, director general, private sector operations department
Ms. Aman Trana, director general, procurement, portfolio, and financial management department
Ms. Shanti Jagannathan, principal education specialist and OIC for SG-HSD’s education practice team

9 – 10 a.m.
Registration for Philippine officials

10 – 10:30 a.m.
Welcoming remarks and housekeeping

Philip Landon, interim president and CEO, Universities Canada
H.E. David Hartman, ambassador of Canada to the Philippines

Opening remarks from Philippines officials

Introductory remarks by Dr. J. Prospero De Vera, chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

MOU signing between CHED and Universities Canada

10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sustainable and long-term institutional partnerships between Canadian and Philippine institutions

This session will focus on expanding collaboration partnerships with the Philippines and discussing best practices with members already active in the region. Building on the success of partnerships between Philippine and Canadian institutions and tools already in place, the panel will explore areas where we can deepen institutional partnerships in mobility, education and training with a focus on sustainability and sustainable practices.

Moderator: Ana Serrano, president and vice-chancellor, OCAD University
Dr. Philip Steenkamp, president and vice-chancellor, Royal Roads University
Dr. Kevin Hall, president and vice-chancellor, University of Victoria
Ambassador Laura Quiambao-Del Rosario, Miriam College
Dr. Junifer Rey Tabafunda, chancellor, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University
Dr. Laurene Chua-Garcia, vice president for external relations and internationalization, De La Salle University Manila

12 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.
Lunch

Presentation by Philippine Universities: Forging a Network for Sustainability: Collaboration between Canada and the Philippines on environmental sustainability to achieve the UN SDGs.

Dr. Jose Camacho, Jr., chancellor, University of the Philippines Los Baños

1 – 2:15 p.m.
Building the Philippines’ research capacity through collaboration with Canadian Universities

This session will showcase Canada’s strengths in research and building a strong research ecosystem through the sharing of best practices in Industry-Academia collaboration. The session will explore expanding research partnerships between Canada and the Philippines while identifying ways to leverage cooperation with the industry in the Philippines.

Moderator: Dr. Paul Mazerolle, president and vice-chancellor, University of New Brunswick
Dr. Lesley Rigg, president and vice-chancellor, Brock University
Jacques Frémont, president and vice-chancellor, University of Ottawa
Dr. Orlando Balderama, vice chancellor for research and development, extension and training, Isabela State University
Prof. Cecilia B. Moran, Dr. rer. nat., Executive assistant for research operations and management, office of the vice-rector for research and innovation, University of Santo Tomas

2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
Coffee break

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Concurrent thematic sessions:

Session A: Climate Smart Agriculture Forum: Sharing of Canada’s practices in enhancing global food security, building climate resilience and increasing productivity in Agriculture

Moderator: Angel Bautista, country director, Philippine Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture
Dr. Alan Davis, president and vice-chancellor, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Dr. Mario Pinto, vice-president (research and international), University of Manitoba
Dr. Edgar Orden, president, Central Luzon State University,
Dr. Nathaniel Bantayan, vice chancellor for research and extension, University of the Philippines Los Baños

Session B: Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Building inclusive and richer communities through higher education collaboration

Moderator: Marlowe U. Aquino, PhD, professor and director, planning, Mariano Marcos State University
Prof. Lisa Philipps, provost and vice-president academic, York University
Timothy Rahilly, PhD, president and vice-chancellor, Mount Royal University
Dr. Rosemary M. Gutierrez, vice chancellor for academic affairs, University of the Philippines Baguio
Dr. Rowena Capulong Reyes, vice president for corporate affairs and dean of the Institute of Arts and Sciences, Far Eastern University

Session C: Women in Higher Education: Intensifying the role of women in higher education and internationalization

Moderator: Driselle Pajuyo, director, international relations office, Far Eastern University
Ana Serrano, president and vice-chancellor, OCAD university
Ambassador Laura Quiambao-Del Rosario, president, Miriam College
Cecilia C. Pring, vice president for academics and research, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas

3:30 – 3:40 p.m.
Closing remarks and transition to networking meetings

Philip Landon, interim president and CEO, Universities Canada

3:50 – 5:30 p.m.
Networking meetings between Canadian and Philippines presidents

6 – 8:30 p.m.
Closing dinner

Guy Boileau, senior trade commissioner, Embassy of Canada in the Philippines
Philip Landon, interim president and CEO, Universities Canada

November 8, 2023

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Concurrent visits

Institutional visit 1: Agriculture, food security and environmental sustainability
University of the Philippines Los Baños/International Rice Research Institute
Institutional visit 2: Science, technology and innovation
De La Salle University Science and Innovation Centre/Animo Labs Technology Business Incubator/Start Center Innovation Hub

1 – 2:30 p.m.
Closing lunch and debriefing with Canadian university presidents

5 p.m. onwards
Reception at the Ateneo de Manila University in collaboration with OCAD University