The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and the Japan Foundation Manila (JFM) solidified their collaborative ties through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 8 August 2024. The event marked a significant milestone in the partnership that has been steadily growing over the past few months.
UPOU Chancellor Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria expressed her enthusiasm for the formalized partnership, emphasizing its importance in addressing the sector’s needs benefiting from Japanese language education. Dr. Bandalaria manifested her gratitude to JFM for their trust and confidence in UPOU. She also acknowledged the instrumental role of Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa, Jr., UPOU Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning (CODTL) Deputy Director for Open and Digital Learning Research and Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) Program Director for Immersive Open Pedagogies (IOP), and Dean Charisse Reyes of the Faculty of Education (FEd) in pushing for this collaboration.
JFM Director Mr. Tsutomu “Ben” Suzuki shared the sentiment, emphasizing that the MOU signifies a partnership and a shared vision. He expressed JFM’s commitment to promoting language education and creating better opportunities for Filipinos. Mr. Suzuki highlighted the potential of the partnership to revolutionize Japanese language education in the Philippines by incorporating technology and equipping Filipinos worldwide to learn the language.
The partnership will focus on joint research activities and lectures, participation in seminars and academic meetings, exchange of published educational materials and other information, trans- and cross-cultural endeavors, and special joint short-term academic programs. A crucial component of the collaboration is the development of essential training for future educators to address the current shortage of qualified Japanese language teachers in the country.
UPOU Chancellor Bandalaria, Dean Reyes, Mr. Suzuki, and Deputy Director Mr. Yojiro Tanaka are the signatories of the MOU, signifying both parties’ commitment to the partnership’s success.
Together with Dr. Figueroa, Dr. Myra C. Almodiel, Director of Office of Public Affairs (OPA); Ms. Margaret Jarmin-Suarez, OVCAA Program Development Associate for Institutional Linkages; and other representatives from JFM and UP Diliman also graced the event.
Both institutions are confident that this partnership will significantly promote Japanese language education in the Philippines and strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries.
Written by Zyrene Villanueva ♦ Edited by Myra C. Almodiel and Anna Cañas-Llamas ♦ Photo by Anna Mhari Duria
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