RSU signs MoU with Kansas State University, USAThe long wait is over - the Kansas State University and Romblon State University signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last 22nd of July 2021. The MoU agreed the following general areas of interest and cooperation:
1. The exchange of scholars and scientists to conduct research of mutual interest. 2. The exchange of professors for lectures and short-term visits. 3. Invitations to scholars for participation in conferences, symposia, and instruction; and 4. Exchange of information, academic materials, and publication in fields of mutual interest. |
Moreover, RSU spearheaded the consortium - Conservation Agriculture (CA) for Organic Agriculture (CA4OA) which promotes the three (3) principles of conservation agriculture: (1) minimum soil disturbance, (2) continuous cover of organic matter on the soil, (3) diversity of crop species. The mission of CA4OA is to grow and distribute nutritious food profitably and equitably, while balancing soil, water, biodiversity, and air health and mitigating climate change. CA4OA will pursue six actions: training; education, research, extension; inclusion in K-12 experiential learning curriculum; open systems agricultural machinery manufacturing; profitable and equitable business enterprise; and integration in local, regional and national government policies and budgets.
Focused Group Discussions towards forging of a MoUThere are on-going group meetings being held every Tuesday among the 11 interested HEIs and Kansas State University (USA) on the finalization of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) towards the implementation of the Conservation Agriculture (CA) in the country.
The participating HEIs are as follows: Catanduanes State University (CatSU), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Cetral Philippines State University (CPSU), Davao del Sur State College (DSSC), Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMSU), Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Marinduque State College (MSC), Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC), Romblon State University (RSU), and University of Southern Mindanao (USM). The International Linkages and Affairs Office (ILAO) of the Romblon State University is hosting/facilitating the meetings, and coordinating with the resource person from Kansas State University, USA. |
Talk/Lecture Series on Conservation AgricultureThe collaboration with Kansas State University came about when RSU attended the PH-US University Partnership Networking Event organized by EdUSA Philippines (US Embassy in the Philippines) and CHED-International Affairs Staff in September 2020. RSU took the lead to organized this webinar and participated by more than 100 individuals (faculty and students) from various higher education institutions (HEIs) and national and local agencies in the country. The lecture series was conducted on October 13, October 20, October 27 and November 3, 2020.
This initial cooperation between RSU and Kansas State University is part of the ten-point agenda of the university President, Dr. Merian Catajay-Mani to expand and strengthen both local and international linkages. This webinar was also timely endeavor as a kick-off activity to commemorate the establishment of RSU as a "university" in MIMAROPA region. RSU became a university on October 14, 2009 as enacted by the former President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The webinar on Conservation Agriculture is a very significant undertaking in the current COVID-19 pandemic situation to address food security and agricultural systems particularly in island provinces in MIMAROPA. Dr. Manuel "Manny" Reyes was the key resource person of the webinar. Dr. Reyes is a Research Professor of KSU with more than 30 years of experience working with water quality modeling, natural resources management and conservation agriculture. Conservation Agriculture is an approach to "save and grow" in order to enhance and conserve the soil, water, and biodiversity resources to increase food production. Indeed, it is a "regenerative agriculture" that promotes minimum soil disturbance, provide permanent organic soil cover, and diversification of species in rotation, sequence and associations. |