​The Socially Innovative Global Classroom (SIGLOC) started in February 2019 as a joined training (face-to-face) program between Osaka City University (Japan) and Andrews University (USA). By year 2020, Osaka City University implemented the SIGLOC program virtually/online to provide a “fee-free” international education during the COVID-19 pandemic which utilizes a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) framework. The main purpose of the program is to cultivate social innovators who will identify pressing social problems and who will provide solutions through new products, services and systems. Thus, the program will cultivate participants to discover issues and the ability to find solutions and train them to implement the identified solutions through collaborations among the participating international students. The program also requires participating students to study about 30 hours per week, including both synchronous and asynchronous pair/group work.  Part of the program is also cultural activities organized by the participating students that are grouped into teams. 

The culminating output from the participating students is an individual report presentation on their chosen topics in lined with the program theme: “SDGs: Social Innovation in your Local Community toward Solving Global Issues.” Mr. Flores submitted a report entitled: “The Urbanizing Environment and the Decline of Green Spaces: The Case of the City of Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines” and while Ms. Modena’s report is entitled: “Romblon, Romblon resilience: The circumstances and security on the island.”

The report of Mr. Flores mainly focused on how local communities participate in sustaining biodiversity through restoration of green spaces. Specifically, he identified projects that will help the LGU incorporates doable measures and policies towards safe, resilient, and sustainable community – aligned to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #11. On the other hand, Ms. Modena’s report provided specific strategies in the promotion of sustainable tourism in the Romblon, Romblon particularly on maximizing the use of alternative renewal energy for local transport and marble production which consequently will alleviate poverty in the island communities of Romblon, and in support to the UN’s SDG#1 and SDG#13.  

Dr. Reynaldo Perez-Ramos, Director of the International Linkages and External Affairs Office (ILAO) served as the adviser of Mhel and Anica, and he was allowed to join the orientation and closing events of SIGLOC. Dr. Ramos was also requested to give short remarks during these events.

​For enquiries and additional information about this free SIGLOC Program for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, please email the RSU’s International Linkages and External Affairs Office at rsuinternationalaffairs2020@gmail.com or visit its website:  https://rsuinternational.weebly.com/ or the Osaka Metropolitan University’s COIL Program link: http://www.coil.osaka-cu.ac.jp/en/blog/11th_sigloc_online/.  The 11th SIGLOC Program will be held online from 11-29 July 2022.

The milestones of ILAO achievements that somehow contributed to the achieving the 10-point Agenda of the President, Dr. Merian Catajay-Mani, particularly #5-point agenda: expand and strengthen local and international linkages. Specifically, under this agenda has sub-goals to achieve by ILAO as follows: (1) Institutionalize an organic unit/office that focuses on both local and international affairs and linkages; (2) Engage RSU Alumni in developing programs and projects; (3) Establish a sustainable transnational
education program; and (4) Expand and strengthen industry linkages and partnerships. These sub-goals led to accomplish the following activities in a span of a year from when the unit was created.

These milestones are the following:
(a) Memorandum of Understanding between RSU and Kansas State University, USA on Conservation Agriculture;
(b) Lifetime membership with the University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP), Philippines, Inc.;
(c) International membership with the UMAP International, with Pledge of Agreement with Vancouver Community College (as the International Secretariat, while CHED-IAS Philippine National Secretariat);
d) Featured Success Story in the first-ever campaign released by the US Embassy in the Philippines during the kick-off celebration of the International Education Week 2020 in close coordination with EdUSA Philippines and CHED-IAS; 
(e) RSU was featured during the event as one of the success stories of stand-out Philippine- US University Partnership. RSU has an ongoing collaboration with Kansas State University (USA) on Conservation Agriculture;
(f) Facilitated some of the prestigious scholarship grants virtual sessions such as Fulbright, Australia Awards, Canadian Education Center for information drive;
(g) Facilitated webinars related to Conservation Agriculture, School from Home Gardens, geotechnical engineering design, and agricultural Residuals and Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) with both local and foreign academic institutions. 

THE VIRTUAL CEREMONIAL signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between 14 higher education institutions (mostly state colleges and universities) in the Philippines, including SEARCA (Southeast Asian Regional  Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture and Kansas State University (USA) took place last August 24, 2021. Majority of the partners HEIs' Presidents attended the event. 

These HEIs include the following: Caraga State University (CSU) Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte; Central Luzon State University (CLSU) Nueva Ecija; Central Philippines State University (CLSU) Negros Occidental; Davao Del Sur State College (DSSC) Digos City, Davao Del Sur; Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) La Union; Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU); Marinduque State College (MSC) Marinduque; Mindanao State University – IIT (MSU IIT) IliganChancellor; Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) Pampanga; Philippine Christian University (PCU) ManilaPres. Junifen Gauuan; Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC) Occidental Mindoro; Romblon State University (RSU) Romblon; UPLB Los BañosChancellor Jose V. Camacho Jr.; and University of Southern  Mindanao.

This event also happened during the 75 anniversary of Philippines and US Diplomatic relations and 100 years 1921, Kansas State University started engaging in the Philippines in 1921. Some of the relevant links of these initial collaborations between the Philippines and the United States thru KSU: 
https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/about-us/past-department-heads/leland-e-call/index.html
https://themercury.com/club-news-for-may-22-2021/article_60445e3e-645e-50bf-b80c-381d8a955a29.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

​The zoom recording can be watched/viewed at: MoU Signing

The Conservation Agriculture for Organic Agriculture (CA4OA) Consortium has its mission to:  to grow and distribute and equitably, while enhancing soil-water-air-biodiversity health, mitigating climate change, and nurturing partnerships and peaceful communities. 

The 6-action items of the CA4OA are as follows: (1) training, (2) SUCs engagement, (3) K-12 schools engagement, (4) machinery, (5) business, and (6) government engagement.

 Camosun College is located in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia with campuses on the Traditional Territories 
of the Lekwungen and WSÁNEĆ peoples. Camosun offers many programs and courses that are fully online and have no face-to-face class. The college also offers courses that are primarily online but may include an on-campus orientation and/or examination. For additional information, visit its website:  https://legacy.camosun.ca/about/​

This is a continuing effort in the promotion of Conservation Agriculture (CA) in the Philippines. ​Guest speakers include: Jen Goldstein, Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy; Atty. Lily Freida Milla, OIC Deputy Executive Director, International Affairs Staff, CHED; Atty. Joselito C. Alisuag, Director, IV, CHED-MIMAROPA; and Director Dr. Glen Gregorio, Ph.D., Executive Director, SEARCA.

Topics covered during the first series of the program (20 July) are as follows: (a) Conservation Agriculture For Organic Agriculture (CA4OA) Consortium – Its Mission and Goals and Its Relation to School Plus Home Gardens Cum Biodiversity Enhancement Enterprise (SHGBEE) by Manuel “Manny” Reyes, Ph.D., Research Professor, Kansas State University; (b) Initiatives on SHGBEE and CA4OA Integration by Aladino C. Morada, Ph.D,. University President, Central Philippines State University by Angelie Rose L. Lumba, Ph.D., Research Director; and Future-proofing Our Children's Nutrition and Education through School plus Home Gardens by Blesilda M. Calub, Ph.D., Organic Agriculture Program Leader, Agricultural Systems Institute, UPLB.
​
The following topics were discussed during the second part of the webinar (27 July): Success Stories of Katala Foundation on Biodiversity Conservation, Province Palawanby Indira Lacerna-Widmann, Chief Operations Officer, KATALA Foundation, Inc.; Labuin Elementary School as a Center for Community and Sustainable Development by Ms. Michelle R. Samia, Master Teacher 1, Labuin Elementary School, Labuin, Pila; Bagumbayan E/S to Amazing Cavinti : " School and Home Garden Amidst Pandemic" by Ms. Soledad S. Villanueva, Public Schools District Supervisor, Cavinti District School, Division Office; and 
Journey of SDO Laguna in SHGP by Mr. Lamberto C. Perolina, Education Program Supervisor Agriculture, DepED Division of Laguna.
​

​The MoU was signed by the RSU University, Dr. Merian Catajay-Mania and KSU President, Richard B. Myers. ILAO Director, Dr. Reynaldo Perez-Ramos looked on while RSU President signed the MoU.

Aside from RSU, Kansas State U has MoU with other 11 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines, namely: Catanduanes State University, Caraga State University, Central Luzon State University, Central Philippines State University, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Mariano Marcos State University, Marinduque State College, Mindanao State University - IIT, Pampanga State Agricultural University, Occidential Mindoro State College, and University of the Philippines Los Banos. 

This was a joint effort between CHED-IAS and EdUSA Philippines which introduced the innovative partnership grants. These financial assistance are open to all higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines. On the other hand, RSU was featured during the event as one of the success stories of stand-out Philippine-US University Partnership. RSU has an ongoing collaboration with Kansas State University (USA) on Conservation Agriculture.  

Click the above image for details of the event!