BACOLOR, Pampanga—The Pampanga provincial government, Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) , Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) and Dankook University (DKU) of South Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding for a students exchange program.
The students exchange program inked on April 25 is an outcome of a visit last January by a Pampanga delegation headed by Gov. Lilia Pineda and former President and now Second District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Acting Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda said on Wednesday.
The signing took place at DHVTSU, the oldest arts and trade school in the Far East and a declared heritage site by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Dr. Jaedong Lee, DKU associate vice president for international affairs, said the 30-year-old DKU is the fastest growing learning institution in South Korea.
Dr. Enrique Baking, DHVTSU president, expected the MOU to be the “start of strong and lasting exchange in academic growth.”
Dr. Honorio Soriano, PSAU president, said “going international is an approach for our learning institutions to be more relevant in our societies.”
Board Member Rosve Henson expressed hope that the students exchange program would lead to a sharing of skills, technology and academic excellence.
“We appreciate this partnership very much,” said Henson. “I hope it will improve the conditions of the Pampanga people especially our youth.”
Acting Governor Pineda said the partnership “speaks of the friendship and trust of South Korean people to us Filipinos.”
He chairs the Korean Desk created by the provincial government to accept complaints by Korean nationals on the heels of the killing of businessman Jee Ick-Joo in October 2016 in Angeles City. The Department of Justice has recommended the filing of cases against several policemen based in Metro Manila.