BSU partners with SEAMEO

CBSUA visited BSU, and after some continuous visitation and exploration, CBSUA offered BSU the possibility of partnership, especially for the CTE students, since CBSUA also offered Secondary Education courses.

“Before BSU agreed to the partnership that CBSUA is offering, they had a lot of formal meetings first and ongoing discussions between the two deans of the universities, and in December 2022, they finally signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the Exchange Internship of the students,” added Mrs. Alawas.

The partnership brings a lot of benefits to the university and the students as well with the primary benefit of having linkages to other schools, especially on local partnerships in the form of exchange students or interns. The said internship will help interns to adapt to other cultures besides the Cordilleran cultures.

Teacher Student Exchange Summit Meeting at the Avani Hotel in Bangkok for the signing of a letter of agreement for the 9th batch of the SEA international student exchange program and to identify international institutions for future partnership.

“Overall, it was great and enriching as I’ve come to deal with people of other language and culture. The new environment created an avenue for me to create a new perspective on what really is my philosophy in education. This really helped me find my own strategy in imparting knowledge and wisdom to the students. Privileged!” expressed Jhosua Leo Andaya, intern from BSU.

The purpose of the SEA-Teacher Student Exchange Summit was to share and learn about the initiatives and innovative approaches of the pre-service student-teacher exchange, implemented by institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic; to discuss and plan for the 9th batch of pre-service student exchange; to seek commitments from participating institutions in the implementation of the 9th batch of the SEATeacher Project in the middle of 2023; and to establish and strengthen partnerships among participating institutions.

On March 20–21, 2023, Dr. Divina M. Yango, the dean of the college of teacher education, traveled to Thailand to attend the SEA-

The partnership is essential in attaining one of the requirements of the state university in terms of State Universities and Colleges (SUC) leveling. Currently, BSU is at SUC level IV, and to be able to reach level V, they are encouraged to have international mobility.

"Whenever we are accredited, one of the items they look for is our own international linkages, and to be able to attain level V of SUC leveling, we have to have a lot of international nobilities, meaning we have foreign students and our students are going abroad for studies, research, or other things," says Dr. Dolores Alawas, the department chairperson of the College of Teacher Education.

Through the SEATeacher Project, pre-service student teachers in the future are set to develop their teaching skills and pedagogy, encourage the practice of English skills, gain a broader regional and world view, and be exposed to diverse teaching and learning situations and opportunities, as well as the value of flexibility. "The international partnership will also help students to explore the world, experience different cultures not only locally but internationally, so that they will be able to apply the knowledge gained and be able to adjust their skills to different cultures, which could contribute to their success", said Dr. Yango. For the mean time, the university is waiting for the follow-up on the signed agreement. However, there is one school and three possible international universities which were determined for future partnerships.

Benguet, a province located in the Cordillera Administrative Region of the Philippines, is known for its beautiful mountains, scenic landscapes, and thriving agricultural industry. However, climate change is affecting the province's natural resources, ecosystems, and people. The changing weather patterns are causing droughts, floods, and landslides, which are affecting the province's agriculture, forestry, and water resources. These impacts not only damage the environment but also affect the health and livelihoods of the people who depend on them.

This year, the Philippines and Benguet experienced significant changes in temperature, which further exacerbate the impacts of climate change. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), several regions in the country experienced record-high temperatures, with the highest temperature recorded in General Santos City at 38.5 degrees Celsius. These high temperatures are affecting the country's food security, water resources, and public health. In Benguet, the changing temperature patterns affected the flowering and fruiting of crops, leading to lower yields and income for farmers.

Addressing climate change requires collective action and global cooperation. The Philippine government has taken steps to mitigate the effects of climate change through the Climate Change Act and the National Climate Change Action Plan. The Climate Change Act mandates the creation of a framework for local governments and agencies to address climate change and establishes the Climate Change Commission to coordinate climate change initiatives. The National Climate Change Action Plan outlines the strategies, programs, and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote adaptation and mitigation measures. However, more needs to be done to enforce these policies and ensure that they are implemented effectively.

Individuals and communities can also take action by reducing their carbon emissions, promoting sustainable practices, and supporting policies that prioritize environmental protection. For example, individuals can use public transportation, walk or bike instead of driving, reduce their energy consumption, and support renewable energy sources. Communities can establish recycling programs, promote sustainable agriculture, and participate in reforestation projects.