THE UNIVERSITY of San Carlos has partnered with two Belgian universities to collaborate on a five-year research program.

USC, the USC Water Resources Center Foundation, Inc., Université de Mons, and Université Catholique de Louvain signed a memorandum of agreement last month.

The research study is titled “From Groundwater to Water Consumption: Multidisciplinary ChARacterization to Support Sustainable AQuifer Exploitation in the COastaL Metropolitan Area of the Philippines.”

One of the program’s goals is to strengthen groundwater expertise to address critical needs within Cebu’s water sector, through a collaborative, multi-stakeholder, and multidisciplinary knowledge-building process.

The program is funded by the Academy of Research and Higher Education, a Belgian government agency.

Among those present at the signing were Fr. Francisco Antonio Estepa, SVD (USC President), Dr. Rosana J. Ferolin (Dean, USC School of Engineering), Engr. Janice B. Jamora (Chair, USC Department of Civil Engineering), Fr. Rogelio Bag-ao, SVD (SVD PHS Provincial Superior), Engr. Ma. Nenita Jumao-as (WRCFI Director), Dr. Amando Radomes (CARAQCOL South Coordinator), and Prof. Pascal Goderniaux (CARAQCOL North Coordinator and Head, Université de Mons).