German Socio-Civic Org Explores Stronger Ties with Silliman
A professor of the University of Ingolstadt in Germany, who is chairman of a socio-civic arm of the same German university, was on campus February 24 to explore more opportunities of formal engagement with Silliman University on social development projects.
Dr. Axel Bader, a professor of accounting and international taxation, met with Vice President for Development Jane Annette L. Belarmino to discuss about the plans of Mabuhay Philippines, an organization that he leads as chairman.
Mabuhay Philippines was established in Germany in 2013. It is a registered organization that aims to support social projects in cooperation with Silliman University. When typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines, it responded to a need for an organized support system that would facilitate donations to typhoon victims, particularly from students and members of the academic community in Ingolstadt. During that time, there was also a batch of students from Ingolstadt who were pursuing a semester of coursework in the College of Business Administration (CBA). These were the same students who, in coordination with Silliman, were able to bring the donation of school supplies for the pupils at the National Heroes Institute in Kanangga, Leyte, one of the areas that were affected by the typhoon. The organization was also to see after the reconstruction of a classroom in the same school.
The agreement that the University and the Mabuhay Philippines are signing provide guidelines on how activities can be undertaken under the partnership. It also puts in place mechanisms of channeling funds to the University for joint community projects that will involve Ingolstadt students studying in Silliman.
Since 2012, Silliman has been receiving students from Ingolstadt for full-credit coursework for a semester at CBA. It was also Dr. Bader who oversaw the implementation of this student exchange program which the Department of Foreign Affairs described as “pioneering” as it signaled closer cooperation between the Philippines and Germany in the area of education.
On the same trip to Silliman, Dr. Bader met with other officials of the University, including the Registrar Ms Annabelle Paa, CBA Dean Dr. Gloria Futalan, College of Engineering and Design Dean Engr. Jesus Amiscaray and Scholarships Coordinator Ms Rhodora Sagun. He noted the growing interest of German students in doing part of their coursework in Silliman and broached the possibility of including the field of engineering, apart from business. He also confirmed the registration of eight students from Ingolstadt of their choice of Silliman for international exchange and exposure beginning next school year, and tackled the matter of scholarships for Silliman students to study in Germany under a similar arrangement.
(Screenshot from the website of Mabuhay Philippines, http://mabuhay-ingolstadt.de/)
