A cross-border encounter and engagement with Asia-Pacific students:

Quidez brings home international friendship from UMAP Camp

Privileged to be among the 42 delegates in the 1st UMAP International Discovery Camp held on July 30 to August 7, Ms. Kemjie Quidez, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student of the Tarlac Agricultural University, has expanded her horizons on cross-cultural engagement in an immersion and cultural discovery program for students from UMAP member-universities.

The UMAP Discovery Camp 2016, proposed and approved by the UMAP Board in its meeting last May 2 to 6, 2016 which was attended by TAU’s Director for External Linkages and International Affairs at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, was organized and sponsored by the Commission on Higher Education in partnership with the De La Salle University, Ateneo De Manila University and Lyceum of the Philippines. 

“I am so grateful that the University has nominated me to join this program. This made me develop my global and cross-cultural communication skills and enhanced my multicultural competence. I became more aware on environmental issues, multicultural adaptability and climate resiliency. I hope to share my experiences to my fellow TAU students and encourage them to take chances in cross-cultural mobility programs such as this,” Quidez disclosed.

Anchored on the theme, “Building Environmental and Cultural Awareness in the Asia Pacific Region Through Philippine Indigenous Environment, Culture and Arts,” the nine-day interactive, educational camp is designed to enhance the participants’ knowledge, skills and attitude on climate realities and resiliency, as well as experience and appreciate cultural diversity in the arts, cuisine, music and dance.

The program provided the opportunity for university students to experience a meaningful and enjoyable exchange of significant information on relevant environmental issues in our society, to gain knowledge and understanding of the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines and the unique culture of its indigenous people, to build a strong community promoting the UMAP programs and activities and to promote friendship and cooperation among the youth in the Asia-Pacific Region. These were carried out through well-designed forums, workshops, field trips, study visits, heritage tours, and cultural presentations.

CHED designates TAU as COE in teacher education, COD in agriculture

CAF’s Agricultural Education identified as a Center of Development

The Commission on Higher Education gave the University a cause for celebration as it awards the then Tarlac College of Agriculture a recognition as a Center of Development (COD) effective January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018.

As a Center of Development, TAU is recognized as a unit that has the potential to be a Center of Excellence in the future, with its rating in the evaluation an evidence that it has the capability to become one. Also, it must take note of the following responsibilities: (1) act as role model/leader in the community in terms of delivering AE programs; (2) sustain and enhance research capabilities and upgrade professional and research graduate programs in the field; (3) provide assistance to agencies /institutions within its geographical area of coverage; (4) develop quality instructional programs through faculty development activities and upgrading facilities and library holdings; (5) undertake basic and applied research activities on emerging trends and advancements in the field; (6) undertake extension and linkage projects through regional or national consortia agreements, internationalization activities and industry-academe collaboration; (7) undertake activities / projects necessary in developing quality education in AE in line with the thrusts of the government; (8) accelerate the development of AE through strategic developmental programs and projects; and (9) establish linkages with Centers of Excellence in the same discipline to further improve its capability to undertake research in the field. 

TAU, CHED, MASHAV hold international training course to promote sustainable agriculture

The Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) kicked off its long term collaboration with the Israeli government through the conduct of training course on Gender, Climate Change, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security: The Role of Agricultural SUCs in the Philippines in Leading the Community held on Sept.5-16  at the University’s Farmers’ Training Center (FTC).

Initiated by CHED and the  Center for  International Cooperation of Israel (MASHAV), the training course aimed to provide the participants with the awareness and in-depth orientation on the interplay of gender, climate change, sustainable agriculture and food security; create a venue among the SUCs to frame institutional policies and innovative programs to mitigate climate change, promote sustainable agriculture and ensure food security; recognize government initiatives and identify possible prospects for generating support/assistance. 

CHED approves 12M funding for TAU’s educational innovation project

Committed to advance the position of the University to bring about novel transformative solutions to be at par with the more advanced higher education institutions (HEIs), TAU put forward and was able to gain the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) National Vetting Panel’s approval for the “Smart University Platform for TAU” proposal under the Kto12 Institutional Development and Innovation Grant (IDIG) – Internationalization Category.

With this project, TAU will be granted with the amount of twelve million pesos (12M) as funding assistance for the implementation of the development stage (Phase I) of the said program proposal.

The SMART UP for TAU Project is expected to pave way for (1) establishment of pedagogical platform (i.e. online learning, learning management system); (2) development of infrastructures and laboratories; (3) instructional material development; (3) capacity building; (4) internationalization; (5) partnership development; and (6) mobility programs.