French university among Silliman’s prospective partners

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – A university in France caps the list of new and prospective foreign partners of Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental for school year 2014 to 2015.

The Director of International Relations of the Université Catholique de Lille was on campus early this week following the endorsement of the Philippine Ambassador to France on reputable universities in the country that French universities may tie up with, said SU spokesperson Mark Raygan Garcia in a news release Friday.

Anne-Marie Michel met Tuesday with Silliman officials, namely President Dr. Ben Malayang III, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Betsy Joy Tan and Vice President for Development Professor Jane Annette Belarmino.

Their discussions focused on formalizing a partnership on student exchange in the areas of service-learning, allied health sciences and marine sciences.

Michel also spoke with the university registrar and the Dean of Students to learn more about credit transfer arrangements and the possible board and lodging facilities for prospective foreign exchange students.

Michel was also in the country early late February as part of the delegation of university representatives from France of French President François Hollande.

Her visit brings the number of foreign universities that have been hosted on campus for this school year to 13, said Garcia.

The universities interested in ironing out, formalizing or reinforcing partnership arrangements with Silliman are Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt, Germany; Chaminade University, Hawaii; Kinki University, Japan; Kwansei Gakuin University, Korea; Hannam University, Korea; Ngee Ann University, Singapore; Tumaini University Makumira, Tanzania; Prince of Songkla University, Thailand; Gordon College, USA; Seaton Hall University, USA; Shenandoah University, USA; University of Connecticut, USA.

Silliman University currently has over a hundred academic partners across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, Central America and North America.

The numbers are higher when its affiliations member-universities of the Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia are counted in. ­ - /JMD