PH Consulate General in Calgary, University of Calgary to Explore Smart City Development Partnership, Twinning Program

From left: Deputy Consul General Zaldy Patron, Consul General Gilberto Asuque, University of Calgary President Dr. Elizabeth Cannon and Dr. Janaka Ruwanpura (Vice-Provost, International) during their meeting on 14 September 2018 at University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Calgary PCG photo)

CALGARY 01 October 2018 – The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary and the University of Calgary (UCalgary) have agreed to explore cooperation in the areas of smart city development and university twinning program.

During their meeting on 14 September 2018, UCalgary President Dr. Elizabeth Cannon welcomed the proposal of Philippine Consul General to Calgary Gilberto Asuque for UCalgary to consider partnering with Philippine universities for some of its programs. 

Dr. Cannon said that the proposal is very much aligned with UCalgary’s thrust to enhance its collaborative links internationally. She shared that UCalgary even has a dual degree program that allows its students to study for two years abroad and two years in UCalgary.

The university also expressed keen interest on the Consulate General’s offer to link UCalgary with Philippine institutions involved in ASEAN Smart City Network (ASCN), a new mode of cooperation being pursued by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Philippines co-founded ASEAN in 1967 and Canada is one of the Dialogue Partners of ASEAN.

UCalgary and the City of Calgary are part of the Urban Alliance, a research partnership created in 2007 to encourage and coordinate the seamless transfer of cutting-edge research between UCalgary and the city. One of the aims of the Urban Alliance is to find excellent solutions to complex problems facing Calgary and fostering world class research and innovation.

Dr. Cannon gave Consul General Asuque a copy of a research strategy paper on “Human Dynamics in a Changing World: Smart and Secure Cities, Societies and Culture” that UCalgary published in December 2015.

The paper discusses the experience and vision Calgary and UCalgary concerning smart cities and it can provide lessons for the implementation of the ASCN, especially for the three Philippine cities of Manila, Cebu and Davao that are part of the ASCN.

Founded in 1966, UCalgary has 14 faculties offering more than 250 academic programs, and more than 50 research institutes and centers.  It is the number seven university in Canada and belongs to the top 200 universities in the world. 

Joining Consul General Asuque and Dr. Cannon in the meeting were Deputy Consul General Zaldy Patron and UCalgary’s Vice-Provost, International Dr. Janaka Ruwanpura, Regional Manager for Asia Pacific Uli Ng, and Partnerships Officer, Asia Pacific Scott Vu. END

For more information, visit www.calgarypcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/Philippine-Consulate-General-in-Calgary-569041073472108/