USC forges consortium for science, math ed with DOST, 3 universities

USC President Fr. Roderick C. Salazar Jr., SVD, M.A., together with heads of three State Universities in Visayas and Mindanao, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Science and Technology–Science Education Institute (DOST–SEI) on the establishment of a Graduate Science and Mathematics Education consortium program.

The signing of the agreement took place during the launching ceremony of the program held at Trader’s Hotel, Manila last February 16, 2007. DOST–SEI was represented by its director, Dr. Ester B. Ogena.

Seated from left to right: Ricardo F. de Leon (MSU), Dr. Ester B. Ogena (DOST-SEI), Dr. Lourdes C. Arañador (WVSU), and Fr. Roderick C. Salazar, Jr., SVD (USC). Standing behind Fr. Salazar to witness the signing of the MOU are Dr. Enriqueta D. Reston (Dean, College of Education) and Dr. Corazon C. Raffiñan (Chair, Science and Mathematics Education Department).

In this consortium project initiated by DOST–SEI, the member institutions namely Mindanao State University (MSU) of Marawi, Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) of Zamboanga, West Visayas State University (WVSU) of Iloilo, and USC agree to pool their resources to offer a common Ph.D. program in Science Education. The program will have majors in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. The goal of the consortium is “to accelerate the development of human resources in science and technology, particularly highly skilled teachers and mentors in science and mathematics.”

Under the agreement, DOST–SEI will be providing scholarship assistance in the form of actual tuition and school fees, monthly stipend, book allowance, transportation allowance, group accident insurance, and dissertation allowance to qualified applicants. DOST–SEI has also granted each member–institute of the consortium with video–conferencing equipment worth P1.5 million.

This Ph.D. Science Education program at USC will be offered by the Science and Mathematics Education Department (SMED) of the College of Education. The ten-year implementation of this DOST–SEI project will begin in June AY 2007–2008.

Author: Corazon C. Raffiñan, Ph.D.
21 / February / 2007