BukSU partners with Asian universities for language, culture lecture series

MALAYABALAY CITY (OP-IPS) Bukidnon State on education on July 7-8, 2021. BukSU worked with two Philippine and three Asian universities in the conduct of the Summer Short Courses on Language and Culture as part of its internationalization process.

With Tarlac Agricultural University, Iloilo Science and Technology University – Philippines, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University – Thailand, Universitas Sebetas Maret – Indonesia, and Duy Tan University, Vietnam, collaborated in organizing Summer Short Course 2021 – Global Discourses on Education (Language and Culture Sessions), students and faculty members of participating universities converged in a two-day webinar. Each university was given 25 slots for teachers and 50 slots for student-participants.

This is part of the International Affairs unit goal of strengthening the home-based and cross-border internationalization programs through partnership with foreign universities, individuals or organizations. This is also a way to explore the rich ASEAN cultures, languages and values.

The 2-day webinar’s lecture series commenced by the talk of Dr. Elle Christine D. Melendez, a Language and Letters faculty, with her topic on “Intercultural Communication” and it was followed by various topics that promote the role of language in international engagement among nations.

On the second day, of the webinar included the presentation of the topics on understanding the rich culture of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, featuring the historical account on how the Philippines engaged with other countries without disrupting its cultural identity as a nation. Ms. Loreta Sol L. Dinlayan, Director of the Bukidnon Studies Center shared a talk on the topic, Understanding the Rich Culture of the ASEAN Culture – Mindanao.

Director Dinlayan emphasized on her presentation the Mindanawon’s cultural perspective. Her talk also features the historical account on how the Philippines engaged with other countries without disrupting its cultural identity as a nation.

Other speakers in the said event were Ms. Cecile Lapitan and Ms. Lea Credo from TAU, Dr. Adisorn Prathoomthin and Dr. Simmee Oupra from CRRU-Thailand, Dr. Kundharu Saddhono and Dr. Slamet Subiyantoro from UST-UNS-Indonesia, and Ms. Uyen (Sue) Huynh and Ms. Do (Daisy) Bui from Duy Tan University-Vietnam.

Talks and promotional video presentations on the rich culture of Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam were also part of that summer course. Testimonies from the participating students were among the highlights of the activity.

With the BukSU’s offering of Bukidnon Cultural Studies for tertiary students, as an academic immersion to local culture of indigenous peoples in Bukidnon, this activity complements the aim of the university to provide students the total experience to explore both the local and international culture. This initiative of the university promotes the internationalization of the curriculum by strengthening the university’s international engagements in instruction, research, extension and production.

BukSU President, Dr. Oscar B. Cabańelez, delivered his message during the opening program. Bukidnon Studies Center’s director, Ms. Loreta Sol L. Dinlayan, delivered the topic on Understanding Mindanao Culture by presenting ethno-cultural materials usually found in a museum.

The International Affairs Unit of Bukidnon State University is a frontline office which is responsible for the planning and monitoring of the internationalization agenda of the university. It is currently headed by Ms. Laurelee B. Cabacungan, the IAU Director. (Contributed by Bukidnon Studies Center with reports from IAU)