CLSU and NIU Forge New Partnership

In line with the vision of CLSU to be a world-class national research university, it has continued its venture on internationalization through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) forged with the Northern Illinois University (NIU) held on August 10, 2022 at the Admin Conference Room. Dr. Edgar A. Orden, University President, and Prof. Rhodalyne Crail, representative of the NIU led the MOA signing while Mr. Julio Amador III, Executive Director of Philippine American Education foundation for Fulbright Philippines joined via zoom. The MOU Signing is the result of the approved project entitled ‘The Philippines Coffee and Carabao Culture and Language: Language Immersion in Northern and Southern Rural Philippines funded by the United State Department of Education Fulbright-Hays. It is an 18-month program that intends to immerse at least 12 American language learners in Tagalog language and Filipino culture. The said program is expected to run from September 2022 until March 2024. Prof. Rhodalyne Crail commended CLSU for being a passionate institution in teaching the southeast language to students from other countries. “CLSU is one of the trailblazing institutions that taught and appreciated Southeast language. Thank you for your willingness to this collaboration and we are looking forward to the best experience that CLSU will provide for our students,” Ms. Crail added. Meanwhile, Mr. Julio Amador praised CLSU for always being a good partner, for producing strong support, and for creating this project. “This is evidence that CLSU is one of the most internationalized universities in the Philippines given its capacity to host Fulbright scholars,” Mr. Amador said. Further, University President Edgar A. Orden expressed his strong interest in the partnership with NIU and commended the team from the University for making the collaboration possible. “CLSU always welcomes this kind of collaboration that would help promote our strength and advance the interest of our faculty and students. We look forward to a sustainable partnership,” President Orden said. Joining the activity were Dr. Jay C. Santos, Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences, Dr. Parsons N. Hail, Head of the International Affairs Office - International Linkages and Intercultural Unit, Asst. Prof. Ken G. Calang and Asst. Prof. Karryl Angelie G. Abon-Amis, In-Country Program Coordinator and Asst. Coordinator, and Dr. Mercedita Reyes, Head of the Department of English and Humanities. NIU is a prestigious research university located in Dekalb, Illinois, USA which was ranked 601-800 in the Times Higher Education.