Upgrading the College of Technology(COT) to cope with ASEAN trends means one thing for its faculty— visiting top universities and institutions in South Korea, one of Asia’s centers for research and development.
There could be no better way of understanding how innovations happen than seeing the outcomes for oneself.
Leading the group, former Cebu Technological University(CTU) Vice President for Research Dr. Cecilio S. Baga made way for dialogues to take place between eleven COT faculty members and executives from Hanbat National University (HBNU), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Chungnam National University (CNU), Korea Polytechnic University (KPU) and Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI).
The composition reflected the different fields that the college of Cebu Technological University (CTU) Main offers such as mechatronics and graphics and design.
Primarily, faculty members need to find new models and learn from experts especially that the aforesaid institutions have adapted best practices that made them excellent among others in the region.
As a premier university, CTU is eyeing on partnerships with these leading institutions for they can work together on areas of common interest.
It is expected that collaboration would include research, staff and student exchange as well as development of academic programs once agreement papers would be finalized.
While one agreement with HBNU is under review, a chance to participate in next year’s Design Camp was given to CTU with two (2) of its student designers and a coach. Only Koreans, Americans, Chinese and Filipinos will be competing in the event.
HBNU is known for its technology commercialization though 18 special project teams and 25 research institutes. It also has Korea’s Best Start-Up Infra Education through its Graduate School of Entrepreneurial Management.
Korea-Philippine Cultural and Educational Exchange Center Corporation (KOPEC) President Dr. Choi Hoon Young facilitated the whole trip. He has been actively engaged with CTU by way of offering skills training to its stakeholders for years now.
CTU faculty has always been made to regularly avail of the activity as part of Faculty and Staff Development Program. (Kezia Mae L. Laureno)
