Ms. Katelijne Demeyere, Global Engagement Officer of the Howest Foundation International Office, Howest University of Applied Sciences, Belgium, had a short visit to the International Organization on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Management (IO-CCA-DRRM) Office on June 30, 2022, through the initiative of Dr. Isagani P. Angeles Jr., University Director for Public Affairs and External Linkages of Isabela State University. Her visit was intended to briefly discuss possible academic and research undertakings with ISU through the aforementioned international organization. She had a conversation with Dr. Orlando F. Balderama, Vice President of Research and Development, Extension and Training and one of the incorporators and trustees of the IO-CCA-DRRM, and Dr. Joel M. Alcaraz, Project Leader of Open Design Method, regarding the Student Exchange Scholarship for the students of the College of Engineering and Howest University of Applied Sciences.
Dr. Alcaraz also shared that through various research projects, the College of Engineering is able to address the farmers’ needs in soil and water management through its research and extension activities, capacitate numerous faculty members through Faculty Exchange Programs and integration of machinery design in the curriculum, and acquire state-of-the-art equipment as a result of technology transfer between the collaborators. Dr. Balderama then proposed some strategies to realize the brewing synergy between Howest University of Applied Sciences with IO-CCA-DRRM, such as technology development and partnership with numerous national R&D centers situated in the region. In response to this, Ms. Demeyere elucidated that the Howest University of Applied Sciences is one of the partner Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Flanders and a part of a synergy program that acts like a network of partners that facilitates the linkages of all its members. “There are a lot of possibilities for future collaborations; we just have to find the link with the expertise of the Howest,” she added.
Moreover, Ms. Demeyere had been at the University for four days since June 27, 2022 to attend the Open Design Method Project Activities spearheaded by Dr. Alcaraz, which highlighted the ceremonial MOU signing between ISU officials, project teams, and partner cooperatives and a series of field days or visits to numerous cooperatives in the region. They also discussed the invitation of faculty and students to the South Intensive Program (SIP) and a possible scholarship and internship program for students abroad through a learning agreement. The academic and research discussion was clinched by an awarding ceremony led by Dr. Balderama and Dr. Alcaraz to recognize the expertise of Ms. Demeyere as a Resource Speaker in the Webinar on Environmental Dimensions of Development from the SDGs held during the ISU’s 44th Founding Anniversary on June 9, 2022.
