THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) has renewed institutional ties setting to co-organize a pioneering tri-conference this year.
SEARCA director Dr. Glenn Gregorio said it was an event marked by renewed commitment and increased cooperation when the center and UPOU signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a memorandum of agreement (MoA) on June 29, 2023 at the UPOU Campus in Los Baños, Laguna.
Leading the ceremonial signing were Gregorio and Dr. Melinda Bandalaria, UPOU chancellor. They were joined by various delegates from both institutions, affirming the shared commitment to these agreements.
Gregorio said the MoU represents a revival of the institutional collaboration that will continue to foster joint programs, projects and related activities between SEARCA and UPOU, capitalizing on viable opportunities that may arise.
On the other hand, the MoA establishes the framework for both institutions' collaboration on the forthcoming International Tri-Conference, an event combining the International Conference on Open and Distance e-Learning 2023 or ICODEL 2023, the International Symposium on Education and AI Convergence 2023 or ISEAC 2023, and ASEANnale 2023.
Gregorio said the tri-conference centers on "Sustainability in Education: Intersections, Ideation, Innovations" already scheduled for August 22 to 25, 2023 which signals a commitment to supporting the ongoing evolution of open and distance education both in the Philippines and globally.
He said the upcoming event also offers a platform to investigate the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in optimizing higher education delivery within the country.
The tri-conference promises a hotbed for new insights, ideas and sustainable innovations in the realm of education, Gregorio added.