QS Stars Rating Orientation with Dr. Adrian P. Ybañez – April 26, 2022
In preparation for Samar State University’s (SSU) application for QS Stars, the University sought the expertise of Cebu Technological University Vice President for Research and Development Dr. Adrian P. Ybañez as the consultant and resource person during the QS Stars Rating Orientation of Samar State University on April 26 (22) at the Convention Center.
QS Stars is an opt-in university rating system evaluating universities in a broad range of categories, providing a detailed look at an institution along with performance and quality standards.
Dr. Ybañez was welcomed by the University President Dr. Marilyn D. Cardoso, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Felisa E. Gomba, Director for International Affairs Dr. Elmer A. Irene, International Students Coordinator Mr. Pedro S. Cabrales, and other SSU key officials during the event.
The resource speaker expressed his enthusiasm for helping SSU obtain QS stars by orienting how QS Stars work and the criteria used by QS Stars when rating universities and how to ace them.
Aside from the orientation, Dr. Ybañez also forged research collaboration with SSU researchers during the meet and greet at the Research and Innovation Center on April 25 (22). The results of this collaboration are important as one of the propellers to bring SSU higher and reach the QS Stars.
Officers from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) – Tacloban and Calbayog Conducted an Ocular Inspection at Samar State University – April 20, 2022
Officers from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) – Tacloban and Calbayog conducted an ocular inspection at Samar State University (SSU) on April 20 (22) as part of the application of the University for accreditation which accepts foreign students.
BI-Calbayog Alien Control Officer Mr. Frederick Carlos Bartolome, BI-Tacloban Immigration Officer Mr. Jim Advincula, and BI-Tacloban Immigration Assistant Ms. Aurora Zacate were ushered around the campus to check the premises and facilities of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Education (CoEd), and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Office of the International Affairs (OIA) Director Dr. Elmer Irene and Coordinator for International Student Exchange Mr. Pedro Cabrales together with the Deans and some faculty joined the BI officers during the ocular inspection.
The University through the OIA plans to open courses for foreign students as the University continues to prepare its foundation as an International University.
Embracing Cultural Diversity: Student Cultural Exchange 2022 – April 11-15, 2022
Samar State University plays host to the 2022 International Student Cultural Exchange program with Dong Thap Univesity (DTU) of Vietnam on April 11-25, 2022. Six students from different colleges of the University eagerly showcases the cultural and tourist attractions of Samar in exchange with their Vietnamese counterpart—all for the promotion of goodwill and fostering of partnerships between faculty and students along instruction, research, collaborative projects and cultural awareness. Pres Marilyn Cardoso and Dong Thap University Vice-Rector Cao Dao Thep, among others, graced the opening program with words of encouragement and inspiration.
Virtual MOU Signing Ceremony between Universitas Negeri Surabaya and Samar State University – December 21, 2021
This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) is designed to foster a friendly relationship through mutual cooperation in teaching, research, and joint projects between Universitas Negeri Surabaya and Samar State University. No financial obligations are assumed under this agreement.
The MOU signing virtual ceremony was participated in by no less than the University President, Dr. Marilyn Cardoso, and the two Vice Presidents VP Amante, and VP Orale, Director Palencia, and Director Irene were also present during the event. The MOU signing ceremony coincided with UNESA’s 57th founding anniversary and the MOU signing ceremony is one of the highlights of the event.
Virtual Cultural Exchange Program with Dong Thap University , Vietnam – November 15-26, 2021
Samar State University (SSU), in collaboration with Dong Thap University (DThU) in Vietnam, organized a Virtual Cultural Exchange Program from November 15-26, 2021, to continue to forge the international partnership between the two educational institutions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was conducted through a video and audio conferencing platform, Google Meet, starting from 6:00 to 7:30 PM (Vietnamese Time). Participants from both universities actively engaged in learning the unique culture and tourist destinations of each other’s country and respective provinces. In total, there were 32 participants in the program representing the two universities. Specifically, there were 7 participants from Samar State University and 25 participants from Dong Thap University. Additionally, participants enjoyed creating new friendships with each other through fun activities, strengthening the international linkage between the said universities.
Program Features
- E-certificate for all Participants
- Virtual Tours
- Cultural Exchange Presentations
Impressions from Student Participants
Jonas, BEEd 4: “I was surprised and ecstatic when I found out that I was one of the chosen students for the Cultural Exchange program between Samar State University and Dong Thap University, Vietnam. On the first day of the program, I first felt uneasy, for it was my first time meeting students from Vietnam. However, that feeling of uneasiness quickly faded once we had small talks during the virtual meeting. The two-week-long Cultural Exchange Program did not only give me a platform to proudly share my own culture and my university. But I was also able to learn the cultural essence of the province of Mekong Delta and Vietnam as a whole. This once-in-a lifetime opportunity gave me more than the things that I came to discover because, at the very end, I was able to build something better, friendship. I am happy to say that I have new friendships with my co-SSU students and students at Dong Thap University, Vietnam. I will forever cherish this for my lifetime, and I am forever grateful to Samar State University for expanding opportunities through its international linkages. I hope that in the future, more students will be able to join the program and help in fostering positive relationships beyond the land of Samar.”
Jevah, BSPsych 3: “It was a whole new experience, a very interesting and enjoyable one. I’ve been to several virtual programs but this one was very different because it did not just showcase the culture and tourist spots of the Philippines and Vietnam, but also, it was a great avenue to meet new friends and strengthen the relationship between SSU and Dong Thap University. At first, it was a mixed emotion of excitement and nervousness because it was my first time meeting and dealing with Vietnamese people but as our sessions started and we began to communicate with each other, I already felt comfortable and at ease. And, despite conducting the event virtually, I’ve learned and discovered a lot about Vietnam, especially how they preserve their culture, the same as how we Filipinos preserve ours. With that, I am beyond grateful to SSU because I was given the chance to participate in this marvelous program. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic will never be a hindrance in conducting this kind of program, full of opportunity and discovery, which we, student participants, will treasure forever.”
Christian, BSEd English 3: “The Cultural Exchange Program was a huge opportunity I’ve been dreaming of since my first year of college. Never in my wildest imagination had I thought that it would come true and knocks at my door. When it came, I’ve known that it would only be held virtually, and I thought it would be full of boredom and will not be interesting. Nevertheless, still I was very enthusiastic about the event, as it was a golden opportunity. I was left speechless the day it started. It was fun, wholesome, and positively overwhelming, and it moreover exceeded my expectations. It was supposed to be a face-to-face Program, but with the pandemic, it was held virtually. It was sad, but I have realized that it only proves that no matter what circumstances we’ll be in, the foundation of strengthening the bond between Samar State University (SSU) and Dong Thap University will remain steadfast.”
Jan Carl, BSPh 2: “At first I thought that the event will just be a plain old webinar but it turned out to be different. It was interactive and amazing. It had a different feel when interacting with people from different nations and learning about their cultures. It would also be much better if the pandemic never hindered the idea of actually visiting Vietnam. But despite that, the event truly delivered its goal. It was fun and I would join again when such an opportunity comes.”
Eldiover, BSPh 2: “During our first virtual meeting with the students from DThU, I was excited about what will happen. I was a little bit pressured, and at the same time-honored to represent Samar State University in a Cultural Exchange Program. That time, during their presentations, I was shocked to see their serious faces. It was kind of intimidating for me, but I did not dwell on those things. Rather, I focused on our presentation-especially my presentation which was about the history and the courses offered at SSU. Though I was pressured, I enjoyed the virtual meeting. It was my first time talking with foreigners, especially from Vietnam. It was also my first time encountering their culture. Going down to our last virtual meeting, I was not expecting a cloud-9 of emotions. I was crying when I was saying goodbye to them. The virtual cultural exchange program ended well. Though it is hard to say goodbye, I know that those memories will be kept inside our hearts.”
Esperanza, BITE Electronics 2: “On the first day of the cultural exchange program, I thought it was boring because it was too serious. But in the following days, I was impressed, because at that time there was a friendship being built between the students and teachers of the two universities. Even if I am not a person who is a fund to socialize with, I enjoyed seeing them virtually and listening to their discussions. It was my first time joining that cultural exchange program. Usually, I do not participate because I feel shy. But through the program, I have learned a lot about their culture, values, and tourist spots in Vietnam that were unforgettable. I extend my gratitude to everyone who was present at the event and hopefully next time, we will have this event to give the opportunity of some students to experience the program.”
Victor III, BSPh 1: ” I initially thought of the cultural exchange program to just be an event of two universities sharing their customs and ways of life but I didn’t expect to gain so much knowledge about their roots & culture and have the utmost respect for each other’s customs and values in the process. We were able to build a shared and mutual connection despite our indifferences. The event was very productive because it was a give-and-take type of learning experience for me, Not only did I learn about the rich culture of Vietnam but I was also able to learn so much about my very own country’s and province’s beginnings, rich culture and all the breathtaking landmarks and different places it has to offer. I have widened and enriched my perspective of my roots and I am really glad I get to be a part of this event, it was an amazing experience and I know that now and then I’d feel nostalgic walking down memory lane with all of it.”
Discover Japan with Freddy Yu sensei – November 12, 2021
The students of GE E6 Foreign Language course from the Bachelor of Science in Statistics program conduct a collaborative online lecture with a Resource person from Yamagata University. In this event, students will learn about Japanese culture, ceremonies and festivals, and other Japanese things. Hence, this program is dubbed “Discover Japan”. The program is also part of the collaborative activity between Samar State University and Yamagata University, in which an MOU and MOA are inked sometime in 2018, sustaining its collaboration since then.
For this year, the invited Resource Person is Dr. Freddy Yu, a Professor, and In-charge of International Students learning about Japanese culture, events, and festivals at Yamagata University. Dr. Yu was once an international student from Taiwan which he availed of a scholarship grant in Japan, finished his master’s program, and land a lecturer’s job at Yamagata University. He earned his doctorate degree from one of the prestigious universities in the United States. He is now a Japanese citizen, married with two kids.
This year’s GE E6 class is composed of 39 students but only 25 participated in the event. The class Representative Ms. Edmalyn Aguilar secured approval from the Dean for the use of CAS Amphitheater. Students residing in Catbalogan and nearby can come to SSU to attend the event as a group with only one LCD projector screen set up at the CAS Amphitheater. Others can join the virtual event via Zoom using their mobile phones and other gadgets. There were around 17 students who came to SSU while there were around 10 participants in the Zoom room.
Universitas Padjadjaran Virtual International Program – September 17, 2021
The Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD) in collaboration with the Tourism Department in Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) Indonesia, Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Malaysia, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) New Zealand provides Virtual International Summer Program 2021. The program offers international students from partner universities and beyond from different disciplines and backgrounds who are interested in Marine tourism. The participants come from 13 countries and 5 continents, respectively. In total there are 186 participants in the program representing 28 universities. These participants come from 13 countries and 5 continents respectively.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program offered is replaced by international Courses. This program will be filled with several interesting topics focusing on Marine Tourism, which nowadays has surfaced as a pressing topic in the field of ocean and coastal management. Hence, the title of the summer course program is Marine Tourism and Coastal Vulnerability: Prediction, Assessment, and Adaptation consist of two (2) credits with an additional one (1) credit if the student takes a Virtual Trip, a total, of course, is sixteen (16) working days for this summer course session from 30 August to 17 September 2021.
Program Features
- E-certificate for all participants
- Webinar classes
- Virtual Tours
- Indonesia Marine and Coastal Management Class
Nunez: “It is a great pleasure for me to become part of this program. It has very interesting and informative topics which broaden my knowledge and skills in Marine and Coastal Tourism. It gives me an opportunity to learn and exchange ideas about marine conservation and management from the experts in the fields and meet very nice people around the globe. I also learned from our class about the diverse marine environment, culture, people, and tourism economy of Indonesia. It was a wonderful experience, I hope I would be able to participate in the same activities in the future. Terima Kasih banyak Universitas Padjadjaran!”.
Trà Vinh University (TVU) and SSU MOA Signing Ceremony for the Twinning Program – August 5, 2021
A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signing was held between Samar State University (SSU), Philippines, and Tra Vinh University (TVU), Vietnam on August 5, (21) for the Master’s Degree of Education in English Language Teaching (MEELT)), equivalent to Master of Education (MAED), twinning program starting the School Year 2021-2022.
MEELT would be led and awarded by SSU, supported by TVU, and delivered online through a platform developed by both Universities. Consequently, graduate students of MEELT may take another 3 courses (12 credits) offered by TVU and shall receive a Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MTESOL) once completed which would be awarded by the same university.
Attended by key officials, professors, and staff from the two organizations, the twinning program is primarily aimed to meet the increasing need for high-quality human resources for sustainable environmental management.
SSU and TVU had their first engagement through a research collaborative activity titled, the 1st VietPhil Research Forum in 2019 at Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City, Tra Vinh Province, Vietnam which was attended by five faculty members of the University.
As SSU continues to tread the internationalization roadmap, this milestone of inking the 1st twinning program is surely a strong foundation for becoming one of the top 200 universities in Asia by 2040 and attaining the university world ranking in the near future.
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony (Launching of the ASEAN Month 2021) – August 6, 2021
As the month of August started, Samar State University (SSU) affirms its participation and full support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Month 2021 celebration through a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on August 6 (21).
The ASEAN aims to promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the Southeast Asian region through multilateral cooperation and this year’s celebration bears the theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper” chaired by Brunei Darussalam.
Key officials of SSU led by the University President, Dr. Marilyn D. Cardoso together with the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Felisa E. Gomba; Vice President for Research and Extension Services, Dr. Ronald L. Orale; Vice President for Administration and Finance, Dr. Lydia A. Gonzales; and Vice President for Student Affairs and Services, Engr. Ma. Lourdes P. Amante cut the ribbon marking the University’s launching of the ASEAN month which was streamed live on Facebook and reached 3,428 views.
As part of the celebration, a Memorandum of Agreement signing was done for the Master’s Degree of Education in English Language Teaching (MEELT), equivalent to Master of Education (MAED), Twinning Program between Tra Vinh University, Vietnam, and Samar State University, Philippines, the “Anong Kwentong ASEAN Mo” Contest was launched, and the 1st IZN Award Trophy was turned over to the Office of the International Affairs headed by its Director, Dr. Elmer A. Irene.
A lot of activities are already lined up by the University as it celebrates with the world the ASEAN Month 2021.
SSU QS Stars Orientation – August 19-20, 2021
Still part of the 2021 Virtual ASEAN Celebration, Samar State University (SSU) faculty and staff attended the Orientation on QS Star Preparation and Audit via Zoom on August 19-20 (21) as part of the ways forward toward acquiring Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Stars Rating.
QS Stars Rating is a rating system that provides a detailed look at an institution, enabling the public to identify which universities are the best in specific topics, such as program strength, facilities, graduate employability, social responsibility, and inclusiveness.
This was further elaborated by speakers of the two-day session, Dr. Adrian P. Ybañez (Vice President for Research and Development, Cebu Technological University [CTU]), and Mr. E Way Chong (QS Regional Director of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines).
The University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), Leyte Normal University (LNU), and Northwest Samar State University (NWSSU) were also invited to join the orientation. In response, the University Presidents of the said institutions expressed their appreciation to the University headed by Dr. Marilyn D. Cardoso for “generally sharing the platform” with them.
Preparing and planning to submit for the QS Star Rating is clearly on the roadmap of the University with its chief aim of becoming one of the Top 200 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Asia by 2040.
Regional ASEAN Contests – August 23-27,31, 2021
Three (3) students from the College of Education (COEd) represented Samar State University (SSU) in various contests held in celebration of the 2021 ASEAN Month on (date).
As the Philippine Higher Education Sector joined the 54th Founding Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office VIII in partnership with the Council of the Deans and Educators in Business (CODEB-8) and the Council of Economics Educators in Business – Region 8 (CECON) organized the Essay Writing, Spoken Word Poetry, and Poster Making Contests.
Mr. Marlon Dacanay, Ms. Rosela Tuting, and Ms. Nipthali Garnica served as participants in the virtual contests on Spoken Word, Essay, and Poster Making respectively.
Mentoring the students throughout the preparation and actual performance were their COEd instructors, Mr. Jeff Harold B. Uy, Ms. Mra. Lyme F. Correche, and Mrs. Frene T. Cañas who served as their coaches.
The student-representatives and their coaches were awarded Certificates of Participation during the Awarding and Closing Ceremony on August 31 (21)
Tra Vinh University International Research Conference – June 18, 2021
This scientific conference with the theme “Developing Quality Resources in the Era of Global Integration: The Role of Universities” organized by Tra Vinh University, SSU’s partner university in Vietnam, aimed at creating an academic platform for scientists, researchers, managers, lecturers, and graduate students to share research ideas and findings centered around the mission of resources development to meet the development requirements of all aspects of the economy, culture and society of a country in the process of cooperation and global integration.
Global Learning Program (GLP) Lecturers of ITS Surabaya
Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), an Indonesian public technological university located in Surabaya, East Java, is one of the best technological institutions in Indonesia. ITS Surabaya is ranked 164 in the QS Asian University Rankings 2021 and is committed to proactively being engaged in internationalization to improve the quality of education at ITS as well as to enhance global competence.
ITS called for participation from professors and lecturers around the globe to take part in this common goal by participating in its Global Learning Program (GLP). Through GLP, the guest lecturers will have the opportunity to directly deliver an online lecture for ITS undergraduate students enrolled in the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) and expand international exposure. Guest lecturers will have the chance to inspire IUP students in fundamental university subjects according to his/her area of expertise.
In 2020 ITS had 13 speakers from various countries and partner universities deliver online guest lectures in this GLP program to more than 600 students at ITS, and also hosted three speakers who delivered physical guest lectures at ITS earlier in the year right before the pandemic.
Following the success of GLP at ITS in 2020, ITS is again inviting professors and lecturers from all over the world to deliver online guest lectures for its program in 2021.
The following courses are common subjects delivered for various year levels in the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) at ITS Surabaya. Semester 1 of the academic year in ITS starts in September, whereas Semester 2 starts in March. One semester consists of 16 weeks (final examination included). One is welcome to participate in a suitable course of expertise to deliver a single or multiple guest lecture. A course syllabus is also provided in the program.
Semester 2 (Spring) Semester 1 (Fall)
March – July 2021 September 2021 – Jan 2022
English English
Physics 2 Physics 1
Chemistry 1 Chemistry 1
Citizenship Citizenship
Mathematics 1 Mathematics 1
Mathematics 2 Technopreneurship
Technopreneurship Insights and Applications of Technology
Insights and Applications of Technology
Benefits
- An official decree from the ITS Rector
- Certificate of appreciation
- Souvenir
International Conference Presentations on ICMET – May 21-23, 2021
Established in 1989, the International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (CEST) is a leading environmental conference where top experts, scientists, entrepreneurs, representatives of public administration, and social initiatives present state-of-the-art research on current and emerging environmental issues. CEST is thus a platform where academia and business converge; where academic research, innovative ideas, and solutions serve as the basis for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment.
The conference is organized bi-annually by the Global Network on Environmental Science and Technology together with the University of the Aegean (Greece). 2021 event is jointly organized with the National and Kapodistrian University Of Athens and is academically supported by the University of Salerno (Italy), University of Cincinnati (USA), and Imperial College London (UK) as well as a group of distinguished scientists – the members of the Conference Scientific Committee. CEST2021 is under the patronage of UNESCO’s Water Assessment Programme, International Water Association (IWA), A.C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, and under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Attica Region, and the Municipality of Athens.
Organized by the Singapore Institute of Electronics, 2021 the 3rd International Conference on Modern Educational Technology (ICMET 2021) was held in Bali, Indonesia last May 21-23, 2021.
The conference aimed at providing a platform for academics, teachers and educators at home and abroad to interact and exchange ideas in the domain of modern education and related topics with its prospective application in the various interdisciplinary domains of engineering, including not only technological issues but also social issues.
Ms. Mary Rose Briones of the College of Education, who is currently on study-leave taking PhD in Biology Education at DeLa Salle University, presented a paper entitled “Students’ Voice of e-Learning: Implication to Online Teaching Practice”.
UBAYA Summer Program – February 5, 2021
The Association of Universities in Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) in cooperation with Surabaya University organized an Online Summer program 2021 on February 1-5, 2021 with the theme “Dealing with the Covid-19 Pandemic: Best Practices from Indonesia”. The program was delivered online in a serious but fun manner through a Zoom platform and included a virtual tour of Indonesia Tourism sites and the Ubaya campus. Participants not just learned how Indonesia dealt with the effect of COvid 19 pandemic on the economic, scientific, law and social perspectives but also the unique Indonesian culture.
John Patrick, BSECE3: “I enjoy participating these online summer programs because I’m gaining more knowledge about Indonesia, especially how they dealt with the covid 19 pandemic. I’ve also seen their beautiful places and their culture through the virtual tour.”
Jaypee, BSECE3: “I have gained information about how Indonesia dealt with covid 19 and the best practices they do, and also Indonesia have good places to visit. University of Ubaya is very nice because it has a lot of resources.”
Dr. Yutaka Ito’s Visit to SSU – March 22-23, 2018
Last June 21, 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for students’ Exchange was inked between Yamagata University and Samar State University (SSU). A faculty representative in the person of Dr. Yutaka Ito personally visited SSU in March 2018 to discuss the said collaboration. It was become easy considering that there was two personnel of SSU who were alumni of YU, namely: Engr. Francisco Dequito of the College of Engineering and Dr. Elmer Irene from the College of Education. The two SSU personnel assisted Dr. Ito’s visit to SSU and toured him around the city of Catbalogan.
