School partners with Australian University

The University of Mindanao in partnership with the University of Newcastle in Australia formally opened on Monday, January 20 the intensive engineering course benefiting engineers from local government units.

The course, running from January 15-24, aimed to update beneficiaries with new technologies and methods respective to their field, and includes English proficiency programs to better equip them with the universal language.

Included as beneficiaries are participant-engineers from the local government units of Aklan, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Guimaras, Bohol, Misamis Oriental and Surigao del Norte, as well as representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Education (Physical Facilities Division).

The program, funded by Australian Aid through the Philippine Australia Human Resource and Organizational Development Facility (PAHRODF) is also a result of UM and UoN’s collaboration in 2007 that established mutual benefits for both institutions.

“Our partnership with Australia Aid, the Philippine Australia Human Resource and Organizational Development Facility, and the University of Newcastle has been very fruitful all these years. It did not only establish good relationship, but helped us with developing our competency as a higher education institution,” said Maria Julieta R. Torres, vice president for institutional affairs.

Also present at the program titled In-House Project Management Course held at the Univeristy of Mindanao Matina campus were AVP Reynaldo Castro, Dr. Charlie Canasares, dean of the College of Engineering Education, Dr. Khristine Marie Concepcion, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Education, Dr. Cesar Sanin of the University of Newcastle, and Milalin Javellan, facility director of PAHRODF, and Mark Flores, assistant facility director.

A review of the technical sessions is slated in March.

The program also enables successful participants to obtain course credits should they decide to pursue their Master’s degree related to engineering at either reputable institution.