Published July 12, 2024 by Jenerwin M. Columna| Campus Information Officer
Two days after the first exchange students from the campus have set foot in Malaysia, nine students of the College of Teacher Education (CTEd) have trailed another record for student internationalization activities for Cagayan State University (CSU) at Lal-lo after presenting their thesis proposals before a panel composed of local and international research experts on Jul. 10, 2024.
As the core of international thesis proposal defense, five students of the Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd)- English program and four students of Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) program were given the chance to propose five thesis topics as part of their major requirements in their respective degree programs.
Conducted in a hybrid mode, the presentation features BSEd students, Joshua C. Reyes, Glenda B. Apelacio, Nikko M. Villoria, Joan Nicolas, and Marjorie Salud while Thelma N. Berbano, John mark Asuncion, Leideehlie B. Perciano, and Rea Mae R. Villa represented the BEED program.
Said students defended their research topics carefully evaluated by two offshore members from the Universitas Mahasarawaswati (UNMAS) in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia and three faculty members of the CTEd.
The offshore panel members include Dr. Putu Nur Ayomi and Dr. Ni Wayan Krismayani, and the three local members were Dr. Gemma R. Pascual, CTEd dean, Dr. Baby Lyn A. Lumabas, campus international and local partnership coordinator, and Dr. Marcelo R. Raquepo, CTEd’s research professor and expert in measurement and evaluation.
Just a start
According to Dr. Lumabas, the thesis proposal presentation is “just a start and just one” among the lined-up activities for the CSU-UNMAS collaboration as both universities aim for sustained collaboration as expected in the MOUs and MOAs.
“In our MOA with UNMAS, we have a number of activities to realize including faculty and student exchange program, research collaboration, joint training and conferences among others,” she said.
Dr. Lumabas said that the campus internationalization office pushes for the realization of the offshore and international activities to provide the students and the faculty opportunities and collaboration especially in bolstering learning outcomes as well as the international presence of the university.
Product of international collab
First of its kind, the international thesis presentation is an offshoot of the formalized international partnership between Cagayan State University at Lal-lo and Universitas Mahasaraswati, sealed through Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)and Agreement (MOA) last November 2023.
It can be remembered that CSU entered into a MOU with UNMAS in a virtual ceremony on Sep. 18, 2023 while the formal signing of the document was conducted on Nov. 3 during the 6th International Conference on Sustainable Development held at the Indonesian university.
Reports showed that a team of three faculty members of the CTEd led by Dr. Lumabas attended formal signing of the MOU and the conference where Mr. Jenerwin M. Columnas was awarded Best Presenter alongside Asso. Prof. Nenette T. Columna for the fragrant grass research program that marked the initial engagement of the campus with the UNMAS.
Thankful students
According to Ms. Thelma Berbano, one of the presenters from the BEEd program, the given opportunity to interact with a panel composed of experts in the international arena is a once-in-a-lifetime moment and thanked the college, her professors and the administration, who were instrumental in said academic experience.
“This experience is a significant milestone not just for CSU Lal-lo but most importantly for me as I was given an opportunity to broaden my perspective and exposure to international academic standards,” she said.
On the other hand, Joshua C. Reyes, from the BSEd program, said the opportunity compelled them to bring their best to be of international standards.
“The chance of presenting my research proposal to international panelists was a nerve wracking experience because this is a part of the Internationalization efforts of the college, which prompted us, presenters, to be at our best at the time of our proposal defense in order to meet international standards,” he shared. #