To further formalize the Memorandum of Understanding between Central Luzon State University (CLSU) and Gandaki University signed in 2022, Dr. Jay C. Santos, College of Arts and Social Sciences Dean, together with Dr. Melanie P. Tolentino, Center for Central Luzon Studies (CCLS) Head joined the series of lectures, collaborative meetings, and academic engagements during the 2025 Association for Asian Studies (AAS)-in-Asia Conference held in Kathmandu, Nepal from May 23 to June 5, 2025.
During the event, Dr. Tolentino facilitated and chaired a roundtable discussion for the Inter-Area/Border Crossing category titled Mobility, Marginality, and Modernity in a Demographically Changing Asia. Dr. Santos and two other international lecturers, Dr. Yoshihide Obasyashi from Hokkaido University (HU) and Dr. Kailash Timilsina from Gandaki University (GU), served as discussants.
In addition to participating in the AAS-in-Asia Conference, Dr. Santos, an expert in psychology, also delivered a special lecture on Sports Psychology and Management to faculty and students at GU.
The visit also fostered crucial collaborative discussions between Dr. Tolentino, Dr. Santos, and their counterparts from GU and HU. The discussion led to the development of two proposed research topic outlines, an initial draft of a tri-country collaborative project, and the initiation of a joint manuscript.
Furthermore, both CLSU and GU enthusiastically explored and expressed keen interest in formalizing student exchange initiatives shortly, promising a deeper academic partnership.
