PH Studies Program Shifts into High Gear at the University of Namur
Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Jaime Victor B. Ledda (third from right) with University of Namur Rector, Professor Annick Castiaux (second from left) and professors of various departments of the University. Filipino professor Elma Laguna from the Population Institute, University of the Philippines (fourth from right) and her masteral student from the Population Institute, Ms. Anna Amalia Vibar (second from right) were also present in the meeting. (Brussels PE photo)
BRUSSELS, 17 May 2023 – The Philippine Studies Program in the University of Namur in Belgium, funded by the Philippine Government on the initiative of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, shifts into high gear with the implementation of various collaborative programs and exchanges to be undertaken in 2023.
On 08 May 2023, Philippine Ambassador to Brussels Jaime Victor B. Ledda and Cultural Attaché Liza Jane V., Estalilla visited the University of Namur and met with Professor Annick Castiaux, University of Namur Rector, Professor Jeroen Daquennes, Vice-Rector for International Relations, and professors from the University’s Departments of Geography, History, and Geology who are involved in the implementation of the Philippine Studies Program. Also present were Professor Elma Laguna of the Population Institute of the University of the Philippines and her masteral student, Ms. Anna Amalia Vibar.
Professor Castiaux thanked the Philippine Government for funding the Philippine Studies Program and expressed hope for the institutionalization of the program in the University of Namur. She said that the historical research team is gathering documentation and other resources about the Philippines that will provide researchers easier access to information as they conduct their studies on the Philippines.
A conference on “Philippine Studies: Exchanges between Filipino and EU-based Scholars” will be convened on 07-09 June 2023 that will highlight findings from selected PhD theses on the Philippines, experiences in collaborative research in the Philippines and in Europe, the snowball effects of a research and development project, and studies on population, climate and environment in the Philippines.
Other forthcoming projects under the Philippine Studies Program are:
- The History Department’s research on the history of natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, in the Philippines from the 18thto the 20thcentury, as well as an interest to conduct an in-depth study on the life of Dr. Jose Rizal and the impact of his stay in Belgium on education, business, the private sector, and migration.
- The Geography Department’s studies on the relationship between environment, migration and climate change that are subject of six masteral theses of students from UP and the Ateneo de Manila University.
- The Geology Department’s project on water management and agriculture in the Philippines in collaboration with Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro.
- Professor Elma Laguna and Ms. Anna Amalia Vibar of the UP Population Institute gave an overview of their ongoing study on the social vulnerability of Filipinos in the face of disasters using Facebook data in conducting climate hazard mapping and disaster management.
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For more information, visit https://www.brusselspe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHinBelgium/, or https://www.instagram.com/phinbelgium/.