THE IFUGAO State University inked a new partnership with National Chengchi University of Taiwan to maintain collaboration progress and strengthen academic exchanges.

According to IFSU communications officer Faith Napudo, the two universities and the Kiangan town-based non-government organization signed a Memorandum of Agreement this month to kick off a new, three-year relationship lasting through May 2024.

Napudo said the partnership will improve the academic interchange of materials and information, educational visits by faculty and researchers, collaborative international fora, and cooperative research project execution.

“It was in 2018 when the same partnership of IFSU, NCCU, and SITMo gave birth to the Center for Taiwan-Philippines Indigenous Knowledge, Local Knowledge, and Sustainable Studies (CTPILS) at IFSU in its Lamut town campus,” Napudo said.

Present during the MoA signing were Eulalie Dulnuan, director of the National Museum of the Philippines-Cordillera Regional Museum and former director of the Ifugao Rice Terraces (IRT)-Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems; Jude Baggo, current director of IRT-GIAHS; Joy Nanglegan, Department of Extension and Training director; and Dr. Elpidio Basilio Jr., Research Development director.

Dr. Kuo Ming-cheng, president of NCCU, thanked IFSU and SITMo for their participation during the signing of the partnership.

“It is an enormous pleasure working with IFSU and an honor establishing connections with SITMo,” said Kuo, who hopes students will be rooted locally and think globally.