CRM Consortium, UBCHEA Explore Expansion to Myanmar
The members of the Regional Consortium in Coastal Resource Management (CRM) met with the Vice President for Programs of the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UBCHEA) in Manila last week to discuss, among others, its possible expansion to Myanmar.
Silliman is one of four members of the Consortium. The others are Artha Wacana Christian University in Kupang, Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, Sam Ratulangi Christian University in Manado, Indonesia, and Madras Christian College in Chennai, India.
UBCHEA Vice President for Programs Dr. Glenn Shive is in the Philippines following his appointment to the position late last year. He is with four other officers of UBCHEA who, together with him, are scheduled to visit Silliman University on May 6 to 8: Ms Trudy Loo, Senior Manager for Development; Ms Vivica Xiong, Program Officer for Scholarships and Fellows Program, Dr. Hope S. Antone, Program Officer for Southeast Asia; and consultant Dr. Brian Hall.
During their meeting with Dr. Shive, the members of the Consortium presented their respective institutional accomplishments and proposed activities that could be pursued in the future. They also tackled opportunities of partnerships with certain institutions in Mynmar that demonstrate potential in the area of coastal resource management.
The proposal to expand to Myanmar is consistent with the current initiatives of UBCHEA. In February this year, UBCHEA conducted at Dangon University in Yangon its leadership program dubbed “Higher Education Leadership Program (HELP)-Myanmar: Teaching, Research and Community Service”. Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS) professor Dr. Hilconida P. Calumpong represented Silliman in that program and was among experts who were invited to to share best practices with education leaders from around 40 universities in Myanmar.
(Photo shows during the meeting between the Regional Consortium in CRM and UBCHEA in Manila [L-R): Silliman University Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences [IEMS] Graduate Program Coordinator Dr. Hilconida Calumpong, IEMS Director Dr. Janet Estacion, Dr. Billy Wagey of Sam Ratulangi University [UNSRAT] at Manado, UBCHEA Vice President for Programs Dr. Glenn Shive, Dr. Sigfried Berhimponof of UNSRAT, UBCHEA Program Officer for Southeast Asia Dr. Hope Antone, Silliman's Liaison Officer on UBCHEA affairs Dr. Christopher Ablan, and Dr. Wilson Tisera of Artha Wacana Christian University at Kupang, Indonesia.)
