Mindanao State University – General Santos showcased its dedication to global collaboration during a four-day International Affairs Week that featured significant academic engagements with Indonesia and Japan. The event, organized under the Office of International Affairs (OIA), included visits from Universitas Jenderal Soedirman and Politeknik Piksi Ganesha, as well as a Japanese Studies Workshop with the UP Asian Center and Japan Foundation.
The first two days featured Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, a university renowned for its Merdeka Belajar – Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program, which prepares graduates for global opportunities. They visited the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH), where they engaged with the Dean and faculty from the Political Science and Sociology departments to discuss collaborative opportunities and academic initiatives. They also participated in the International Halal Food Festival on November 29, a celebration of halal cuisine that highlighted the rich culinary traditions of Muslims in the Philippines, organized by the students of the Institute of Islamic, Arabic, and International Studies (IIAIS).
The latter two days featured a visit from Politeknik Piksi Ganesha, Indonesia’s World-Class Polytechnic with the largest number of students in international class programs. Renowned for its International Certified Campus Designation, the university’s mission to create professional human resources by 2030 aligns closely with MSU-Gensan’s focus on academic excellence and global competitiveness.
Both visits included a tour of MSU-Gensan’s various departments, the university Masjid and Fatima Mosque, and the campus museum, offering a comprehensive view of the university’s academic and cultural landscape. The two universities also culminated in a courtesy call and Letter of Intent signing, formalizing partnerships for scholarship programs, joint projects, student mobility, and faculty exchanges. These agreements signify MSU-Gensan’s growing stature in the global academic community.
On December 3, MSU-Gensan further enriched its international week with a Japanese Studies Workshop in collaboration with the UP Asian Center and Japan Foundation. The workshop aimed to deepen cultural understanding and promote academic exchange between the Philippines and Japan, offering participants insights into Japanese culture, society, and contemporary issues.
Dr. Anderson Villa, OIC-Director for International Affairs, expressed his optimism about MSU-Gensan’s internationalization efforts. “These engagements reflect MSU-Gensan’s readiness to collaborate and innovate on a global scale,” he remarked.
Chancellor Atty. Shidik T. Abantas, MDM, LLM, shared his pride in welcoming the international delegates. “It is a privilege to host my first international visitors under my administration. Strengthening internationalization is a key agenda, and we aim to be aggressive in faculty exchanges and other collaborations,” he said. The chancellor also highlighted MSU-Gensan’s top-performing programs in agriculture, engineering, education, and fisheries, emphasizing the university’s competitiveness among well-funded institutions.
The visits underscore MSU-Gensan’s commitment to fostering meaningful global partnerships and enhancing the university’s profile as a center of academic and research excellence. With this successful engagement, MSU-Gensan continues to solidify its place as one of the leading institutions for international collaboration.
