MCC-IAS and DLSU’s Southeast Asia Research Center and Hub Forge Partnership for Research Advancements

In a significant stride toward elevating academic cooperation and fostering research excellence, Mabalacat City College Institute of Arts and Sciences (MCC-IAS) and De La Salle University Southeast Asia Research Center and Hub (SEARCH) formally inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 11 October 2023 at the DLSU Main Campus in Manila, marking the commencement of a transformative collaboration aiming to enhance the academic and research landscape in the region.

Director of DLSU’s SEARCH Dr. Fernando Santiago Jr. presided the activity, accompanied by representatives from MCC-IAS including the Vice President for Global Relations, Opportunities, and Workforce Development Prof. Raymond John Vergara, Assistant Vice President for Linkages and International Affairs Kevin Aaron Peralta, Assistant Vice President for Workforce Development Engr. Joshua Ken Policarpio, IAS Dean Marilyn Arcilla, Center of Community Research and Innovation Director James Darwin Lagman, and AB History Program Head Marcelino Alberto V. Garcia. This partnership not only signifies a remarkable step forward in the fields of education and research but also symbolizes a commitment to shared excellence and advancement.

This momentous event also included a meeting and benchmarking activity organized by DLSU's History Department, led by its Vice Chairman, Dr. Marlon Delupio. Faculty members from Mabalacat City College had the opportunity to explore potential collaborations and academic exchanges with their counterparts at DLSU.

The partnership between Mabalacat City College's Institute of Arts and Sciences and De La Salle University's Southeast Asia Research Center and Hub holds the promise of collaborative research projects, faculty and student exchanges, and joint academic initiatives. It is anticipated to significantly enrich the academic landscape and contribute to the development of innovative solutions for the challenges facing not only the local community but also the wider Southeast Asian region.