THE PHILIPPINE State College of Aeronautics and the World Citi Colleges partnered with the British Columbia Institute of Technology to produce world-class Filipino aircraft maintenance specialists and avionics technicians.

PhilSCA President Marwin Dela Cruz, WCC President Patrick Guico, and BCIT President Paul McCollough launched the joint program through a memorandum of agreement signed in the presence of Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero De Vera III.

Also present was the Philippines’ Consul General in Vancouver, Arlene Magno.

“This MOA signing is timely as we celebrate the first year of the Marcos administration and a response to his call to produce world-class graduates that can practice their profession all over the world,” De Vera said.

“CHED’s presence here today is the manifestation of our deep interest in further strengthening our close bilateral relationship with Canada in promoting the internationalization of HEIs and a signal that the Philippines is open for business for universities that are interested in transnational education,” he added.

The MOA is a result of the CHED-initiated project entitled “Twinning and Training Program for a Ladderized Diploma Program in Aircraft Maintenance Technology.”

The program is seen to result in a globally benchmarked curriculum and pedagogy and improve the competencies of PHILSCA and WCC graduates.

The Philippine Air Force will extend its facilities to the academic institutions and will participate in the training programs at the sprawling campus of BCIT in Vancouver, Canada.

The graduates of this program will have Philippine and Canadian credentials that will support the continuing growth of the airline industry in the Philippines and the Asian region.

“The partnership between WCC and BCIT will produce internationally recognized graduates that will elevate the Philippines as Asia’s choice for aircraft maintenance,” Guico said.

“We thank BCIT for their generosity and warm welcome. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the PhilSCA Board of Trustees for their unwavering support,” Dela Cruz said.