PANABO CITY – Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) is actively implementing its project, Upgrading the Status of DNSC Fisheries Program and Strengthening Global Partnerships, funded by the Commission on Higher Education – National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System (CHED-NAFES).
The project team organized an event on December 20, 2024, to showcase best practices in internationalization and entrepreneurial initiatives, along with an exhibition of marine and fishery resources through a museum tour. Leading the discussions were DNSC faculty members who had visited Nha Trang University (NTU) and the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH) in Vietnam. The forum focused on Cross-Border Education and highlighted the importance of global partnerships in advancing agriculture and fishery education.
“We look at CHED Memorandum Order No. 33, series of 2021, which aims to produce globally competitive graduates who excel in agriculture, capture fisheries, post-harvest, and aquatic resource conservation. This project builds on these core areas,” said Dr. Girley S. Gumanao, project leader and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Dr. Gumanao emphasized the need for the Philippines to match or surpass the achievements of neighboring countries in these fields.
Dr. Nickel Jean Lagare-Sastine, Dean of the Institute of Advanced Studies (IADS) and a delegate to the Vietnam trip, shared, “We aim to adopt best practices from these universities to enhance our programs and provide greater opportunities for our students. We’ve already sent a graduate student to learn abroad, and sending undergraduate students is definitely possible.”
The event was attended by students from the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management, Marine Biology, and Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences programs, alongside graduate students, faculty, and staff. Special guests included representatives from the Provincial Fisheries Office of Davao del Norte and fisherfolk from Panabo.
Highlights of the event included a Biodiversity Museum tour and a tasting of Banana Food Products, which showcased entrepreneurial innovations. “What stood out to me were the value-added products derived from their coastal resources, such as fish, seaweed, and other materials. I hope the delegation from our Vietnam trip can apply these insights, refine their skills, and share their learnings with our students,” expressed Dr. Rosie Lynn P. Tejada, Dean of the Institute of Aquatic and Applied Sciences.
