OVCRIGE MSUN

From April 1 to July 31, 2025, Associate Professor Desheree Judena G. Preciado of Mindanao State University at Naawan took part in the Erasmus+ Exchange Programme Mobility with Partner Countries during the summer semester at Universität Marburg, Germany. Assoc. Prof. Preciado, who serves as the Director of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao and Coordinator for Gender and Development at MSUN, as well as a current Ph.D. student at MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, was admitted as an exchange student in the university’s Peace and Conflict Studies program. The Erasmus+ Exchange Programme, an initiative of the European Union, aims to enhance education, training, and sports across Europe by supporting student and staff mobility. It promotes cross-border collaboration, cultural exchange, and the sharing of best practices among academic institutions worldwide. At Universität Marburg, the Philippines participates as a partner country through the Southeast Asian University Partnership for Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation (SAUP), which seeks to strengthen educational cooperation and address pressing issues in peacebuilding and conflict resolution within Southeast Asia. Assoc. Prof. Preciado’s engagement in this program has greatly enriched her academic and professional expertise in peacebuilding, expanded her research network, and provided fresh perspectives on conflict transformation from a global context. For MSU at Naawan, her participation reinforces the university’s capacity in peace and development education, raises its profile within the international academic community, and opens new avenues for collaboration with European and Southeast Asian institutions.

From July 21 to 31, 2025, graduate students from Mindanao State University at Naawan represented the Philippines at the Highland to Ocean (H2O) Summer Course 2025, an 11-day international program hosted by IPB University in Indonesia. Ms. Marienel A. Laguit, Mr. Alberto A. Barroa II, Ms. Mary Dafeoudelle Jude L. Pagapular, Ms. Berna Louise P. Tabora, Mr. John Carlo L. Garcia, and Mr. Alahden A. Baigan joined participants from across Southeast Asia in a dynamic mix of expert-led lectures, immersive field activities, and cultural exchanges, all centered on the conservation of aquatic and marine ecosystems. The course began in Bogor with lectures on groundwater ecology, marine invertebrates, and coral biodiversity, followed by a visit to the IPB Museum and opportunities to connect with fellow participants. On the third day, the delegation visited Purwakarta Regency’s Cirata Dam and floating solar power plant to learn about Indonesia’s renewable energy initiatives, and even took part in a riparian tree planting activity. The program’s hybrid learning approach allowed for both academic depth and recovery time, with online and in-person sessions covering topics such as antimicrobial resistance, mangrove carbon cycling, marine chemical ecology, and aquatic bioindicators. Students later applied these lessons during fieldwork in Cianjur’s Cibodas Botanical Garden and nearby mountain streams. One of the program’s highlights was the field immersion in Ujung Genteng, where participants engaged in coral transplantation, intertidal and sandy shore biodiversity surveys, and coastal socio-ecology studies. The visit also featured a memorable cultural exchange, with Filipino students introducing “swaki” (sea urchin) to their peers. On July 28, the group visited the Pangumbahan Beach Turtle Conservation Center, where they experienced the rare and moving opportunity to release marine turtle hatchlings into the Indian Ocean. The final fieldwork day took them to Ciletuh Mandrajaya for mangrove planting and biodiversity assessments with the local community, underscoring the link between ecological restoration and community livelihood. The program concluded with research presentations, a lively Cultural Exchange Night, and a heartfelt closing ceremony at IPB University, marking not only the end of the course but also the strengthening of international friendships and scientific collaboration. In a joint reflection, the MSU at Naawan graduate students described the H2O Summer Course as “transformative,” citing both the hands-on scientific experiences and the lasting bonds formed with fellow participants. “We return home with new skills, knowledge, and a renewed commitment to protect aquatic and marine ecosystems,” they shared. From mountain streams to coral reefs and mangrove forests, the MSU at Naawan representatives immersed themselves in learning and action, carrying the university’s name across Southeast Asia as advocates for environmental stewardship and collaboration.