09 March 2016 - At the sidelines of the first Eurasia Higher Education Summit (EURIE) held in Istanbul Haliç Congress Center on February 17 to 19, 2016, the Presidents of three universities and one state college, all from Mindanao, namely Dr. Macapado of the Muslim of Mindanao State University; Dr. Maria Luisa Soliven of the Central Mindanao University; Dr. Milabel Enriquez-Ho of the Western Mindanao State University, and Dr. Dammang S. Bantala of Cotabato City State Polytechnic College signed respective cooperation protocols with Istanbul Aydin University on February 18.

Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, who led the Philippine delegation to EURIE, stood as witness to the signing of the protocols.  Officials from the Embassy of the Philippines led by Ambassador Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez along with Minister and Consul General Robert O. Ferrer, Jr. were also present during the signing of the Protocol, which stipulate collaboration in various fields of educational activities such as student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, seminars and conferences, among others.

The signing took place during the delegation’s campus tour at Istanbul Aydin University upon the invitation of the President of the University Board of Trustees, Dr. Mustafa Aydin who was represented by the university Rector, Professor Dr. Yadigar Izmirli at the signing of the protocol. Prior to the signing, the university presented a brief background about the university. The delegation was given a brief tour of the university’s top-of-the-line facilities at its Institute of Health Sciences and the Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences. The University Library and Dentistry Department was also visited.

The Philippine delegation also met with two Filipino students at Istanbul Aydin University namely, Ms. Irene Soriano and Ms. Nihaya Casar. END