The UPOU’s Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), through its Master of Public Management (MPM) Program, joined the learning visit of the Association of Schools of Public Administration in the Philippines, Incorporated (ASPAP, Inc.) in Taiwan held on 11-18 March 2018, in collaboration with the Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association-Kaohsiung (ECSSA-Kaohsiung). The UPOU is a member of the ASPAP which is a non-stock, non-profit national organization of academic institutions all over the Philippines offering degree programs in public management/administration/governance.
Asst. Prof. Juvy Lizette M. Gervacio, Chair of the Master of Public Management (MPM) Program of FMDS and Mr. Larry N. Cruz, MPM Faculty In-Charge/Senior Lecturer participated in the learning visit which was organized by Asst. Prof. Gervacio in coordination with Dr. Eing-Ming Wu, ECSSA-Kaohsiung Executive Director.
The following ASPAP-member universities were also represented in the learning visit: Ateneo de Davao University, Mindanao State University, Nueva Vizcaya State University, UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of Santo Tomas, and UP Visayas.
Among the institutions visited by ASPAP in Taiwan are as follows: Formosa Social Innovation Development Institute; Yancheng Social Welfare Building, Kaohsiung City Government; Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation; National Taitung University; I-Shou University; Tunghai University; Soochow University; Shih Hsin University; and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). The highlight of the activity was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between ASPAP and Transparency International-Taiwan and between ASPAP and Taiwan Association for Schools of Public Administration and Affairs (TASPAA) which aims to foster more collaboration and cooperation among the various universities in the Philippines and Taiwan.
The learning visit allowed the delegates to observe the good practices of the local government of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Moreover, it allowed the participants to benchmark the academic offerings of public administration/management and governance. The delegates were also able to observe the physical and scholarly facilities and resources of Taiwan universities. They were also able to meet and discuss with the scholars and academics in public administration/management in Taiwan.
