Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) launched its student exchange program with a vibrant Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) for its Thailand-bound seven education students and two faculty members. This event, held this Thursday, January 30, 2024, signifies the beginning of their “transformative journey” as they will embark on a unique blend of cultural experiences, research, and academic engagement in the ‘City of Angels’ in Bangkok.
The month-long exchange program, which starts this mid-February, will engage ISUFST students in the thriving academic environment of Phranakhon Rajabhat University (PRNU). This partnership between ISUFST and PRNU underscores the commitment of ISUFST’s University President, Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr., to internationalization during his tenure.
During the PDOS event, Dr. Siason extended his heartfelt blessings and emphasized his dedication to equipping all ISUFST students with global competitiveness and intercultural awareness. Dr. Joan Belga, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, echoed Dr. Siason’s sentiments and joined OIAL Director Dr. Herman Lagon in providing valuable travel tips and insights to the students, along with their parents and guardians.
The program hopes to broaden ISUFST students’ educational horizons through academic and cultural exchange. This includes participation in the 14th International Conference at PNRU and engagement in collaborative learning and cultural experiences. Specifically, it hopes to expand participating students’ academic knowledge and skills, foster global perspectives, and enhance cultural understanding and interpersonal skills through engaging cultural experiences and collaborative projects with PNRU students and faculty.
Key discussions during the PDOS activity, which is also attended by OIAL personnel, encompassed vital preparations and documentation, including participant details, the study plan, travel hacks, cultural considerations, and crucial aspects of the exchange program.
Additionally, through the facilitation of Director Lagon, it also covered essential aspects of Thai culture, norms, and social etiquette to prepare students for their stay in Thailand. Participants received language lessons, learned essential Thai phrases, and gained an understanding of the importance of respecting cultural customs. Thai laws and regulations, including alcohol age limits and drug laws, were also highlighted during the seminar to ensure compliance and respectful behavior.
Apart from academic components, the seven students (Chinee Gaisa, Jehn Princess Camarcha, Jean Bela-ong, Juliane Eunice Casco, Christine Marie de Asis, Jessa Duller, and Danvic Deoric of Dumangas Campus and Main Campus-Poblacion and Tiwi Sites) and faculty members (Dean Sunny Gabinete and Dr. Rex Paulino) will engage in cultural engagement activities and research exercises, documenting their experiences through journals and research papers.
The exchange program, a first of its kind in ISUFST and a first in Region VI after the pandemic signifies a significant stride towards global education and cross-cultural understanding for ISUFST and its participants, further advancing the institution’s commitment to internationalization.
(Text by Julius Ruger Hermano and Photos by John Dave Soniso and Julius Ruger Hermano)
