THE MARIANO Marcos State University renewed its partnership with Ashikaga University in Japan for a five-year academic, research and community development programs.

A memorandum of agreement was signed on Friday by MMSU president Dr. Shirley Argupis and AU president Dr. Yoshitaka Suetake.

Under the agreement, the institutions will organize joint conferences and capacity-building initiatives, conduct research collaboration in various fields, exchange personnel and students for instruction, research, and community engagement programs.

They will also develop and offer transnational education and short-term courses, and implement Sustainable Development Goals-driven initiatives.

“The MMSU-AU partnership, which started in 2018, has generated various collaborative opportunities between the two institutions,” the school said.

“Three AU professors conducted a joint international capacity-building training workshop that equipped university researchers on renewable energy technologies in line with solar, wind, and biomass energy tracks in 2018,” it added.

In 2022, 11 MMSU engineering students joined an online exchange program through the Sakura Science Exchange Program, a training session on renewable energy funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency with AU as its delivery institution.

The latest joint endeavor is a 10-day Special English Language Program participated by 12 students from Ashikaga University under the MMSU Language Center earlier this year.