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As part of ongoing efforts to foster academic partnerships and innovation, the Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU TCTO) has officially entered into a new academic partnership with the Philippine Normal University (PNU) following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two institutions. The signing was held today, November 27, 2025, at the Sabdani Bulante Conference Hall.
The agreement was formalized by University Chancellor Prof. Mary Joyce Z. Guinto-Sali, Ph.D., and PNU President Dr. Bert J. Tuga, marking the start of strengthened collaboration in education, research, and institutional development. The signing ceremony was further affirmed by the presence of Prof. Wilham M. Hailaya, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and Prof. Arlyne C. Marasigan, Ph.D., a distinguished faculty member of PNU, who served as witnesses to the partnership.
Under the MOU, both institutions commit to a broad range of collaborative initiatives anchored in equality and reciprocity. These include the exchange of faculty, researchers, and students; joint research and extension engagements; shared lectures, symposia, and capacity-building activities; and the exchange of academic information and resources. The partnership also opens doors for further mutually agreed areas of cooperation that support long-term academic synergy and innovation.
Chancellor Guinto-Sali, in her message, reiterated the importance of the partnership, emphasizing how it reflects the shared commitment of both institutions. “This understanding reflects a deep commitment to building bridges between campuses, communities, and cultures, and to advancing education in ways that are inclusive, equitable, and transformative. To PNU, we thank you for trusting in the potential of MSU TCTO and for joining us in shaping the future of teacher education in the Philippines. To the MSU-TCTO community, may this milestone inspire us to continue collaborating boldly, serving passionately, and leading with vision.”
She further expressed her hopes for the long-term impact of this collaboration, stating, “May this partnership flourish, enriching the lives of our students, faculty, and communities, and may it stand as a testament to what we can achieve when institutions unite in purpose and spirit.”
The program also featured a message from PNU President Dr. Bert J. Tuga, who reaffirmed PNU’s commitment to the partnership and outlined the institution’s academic vision and priorities.
In his message, President Tuga expressed his strong support for the partnership, affirming PNU’s commitment as the country’s premier teacher education university. He emphasized the importance of implementing concrete plans and programs that will maximize the partnership, particularly in strengthening teacher training and enhancing the professional preparation of future educators. President Tuga also highlighted PNU’s mission to advance research in education, noting that collaborative initiatives with MSU TCTO will help enrich the field and open more spaces for innovation, knowledge exchange, and scholarly growth.
He also underscored the guiding direction of PNU as an institution—a philosophy centered on collaboration rather than competition, committed to nurturing academic communities, and driven by a shared resolve to pursue proactive and impactful partnerships in research, teacher education, and program development. President Tuga expressed his excitement about the newly signed MOU and conveyed that he is looking forward to a flourishing and transformative partnership with MSU TCTO.
The partnership reflects the institutions’ shared vision of expanding opportunities for innovation, capacity-building, and academic excellence—anchored in their commitment to education that is inclusive, equitable, and transformative. With this MOU in place, MSU TCTO and PNU look forward to fostering dynamic collaborations that will benefit faculty, students, and the broader educational community.
