03 July 2015 – Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar Alex G. Chua received Mr. Mark Raygan Garcia of Silliman University at the Embassy who was visiting Myanmar to explore opportunities of further promoting Philippine higher education and culture in Myanmar. In particular, he was on a mission to strengthen ties with Dagon University and hopefully expand Silliman’s international student recruitment from Myanmar. 

In February 2014, Dr. Hilconida Calumpong of the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS) of Silliman University took part in the leadership program for education leaders at Dagon University in Yangon, which was participated in by about 40 higher education institutions in Myanmar. The program was funded by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia to support Myanmar’s educational reforms.

Five months later in July 2014, Dr. Calumpong returned to Myanmar with Dr. Janet Estacion to attend coastal resource planning in Myanmar. They shared their knowledge and expertise to representatives of five higher education institutions in areas of research, curriculum development, faculty and student exchange, and institutional strengthening, particularly in marine biology. The collaboration between the two Universities was strengthened through a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year on a number of collaborative endeavors.

According to Ambassador Chua, Philippine higher learning institutions are well poised to expand networks and make a valuable contribution to Myanmar as the country endeavors to elevate its human resources development.

Silliman is embarking on an international student recruitment, focusing this school year on five Asian countries -- Cambodia, Laos, Timor Leste, Vietnam and Myanmar. END