CHED designates TAU as COE in teacher education, COD in agriculture

CAF’s Agricultural Education identified as a Center of Development

The Commission on Higher Education gave the University a cause for celebration as it awards the then Tarlac College of Agriculture a recognition as a Center of Development (COD) effective January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018.

As a Center of Development, TAU is recognized as a unit that has the potential to be a Center of Excellence in the future, with its rating in the evaluation an evidence that it has the capability to become one. Also, it must take note of the following responsibilities: (1) act as role model/leader in the community in terms of delivering AE programs; (2) sustain and enhance research capabilities and upgrade professional and research graduate programs in the field; (3) provide assistance to agencies /institutions within its geographical area of coverage; (4) develop quality instructional programs through faculty development activities and upgrading facilities and library holdings; (5) undertake basic and applied research activities on emerging trends and advancements in the field; (6) undertake extension and linkage projects through regional or national consortia agreements, internationalization activities and industry-academe collaboration; (7) undertake activities / projects necessary in developing quality education in AE in line with the thrusts of the government; (8) accelerate the development of AE through strategic developmental programs and projects; and (9) establish linkages with Centers of Excellence in the same discipline to further improve its capability to undertake research in the field. 

A cross-border encounter and engagement with Asia-Pacific students:

Quidez brings home international friendship from UMAP Camp

Privileged to be among the 42 delegates in the 1st UMAP International Discovery Camp held on July 30 to August 7, Ms. Kemjie Quidez, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student of the Tarlac Agricultural University, has expanded her horizons on cross-cultural engagement in an immersion and cultural discovery program for students from UMAP member-universities.

The UMAP Discovery Camp 2016, proposed and approved by the UMAP Board in its meeting last May 2 to 6, 2016 which was attended by TAU’s Director for External Linkages and International Affairs at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, was organized and sponsored by the Commission on Higher Education in partnership with the De La Salle University, Ateneo De Manila University and Lyceum of the Philippines. 

“I am so grateful that the University has nominated me to join this program. This made me develop my global and cross-cultural communication skills and enhanced my multicultural competence. I became more aware on environmental issues, multicultural adaptability and climate resiliency. I hope to share my experiences to my fellow TAU students and encourage them to take chances in cross-cultural mobility programs such as this,” Quidez disclosed.

Anchored on the theme, “Building Environmental and Cultural Awareness in the Asia Pacific Region Through Philippine Indigenous Environment, Culture and Arts,” the nine-day interactive, educational camp is designed to enhance the participants’ knowledge, skills and attitude on climate realities and resiliency, as well as experience and appreciate cultural diversity in the arts, cuisine, music and dance.

The program provided the opportunity for university students to experience a meaningful and enjoyable exchange of significant information on relevant environmental issues in our society, to gain knowledge and understanding of the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines and the unique culture of its indigenous people, to build a strong community promoting the UMAP programs and activities and to promote friendship and cooperation among the youth in the Asia-Pacific Region. These were carried out through well-designed forums, workshops, field trips, study visits, heritage tours, and cultural presentations.

TAU leads DIAL program

The pressing national  issues on agricultural and rural development such as inappropriate technologies, institutions, mechanisms to support programs focusing on food security, agricultural competitiveness, export of agricultural products, and well-being of people in marginalized farming communities could now be addressed by the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) through the “Development of an International Agrotechnology Lighthouse (DIAL) Program.”

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has recently awarded the TAU-DIAL EDSA project team PhP 10 million as a continuing education program grant to carry out the capability enhancement for the said program.  Said budget for the five-year endeavor will reach to PhP 150 million in the development of this program at three different project sites: TAU, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in Bacnotan, La Union, and Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) in Magalang, Pampanga.

To be implemented in collaboration with the Israel Embassy, the DIAL Program is an offshoot of the successful internship program of Filipino agriculture students in Israel, which is participated in by 30 SUCs in the country with more than two thousand recorded interns for the last nine (9) years. 

Institute of International Education (IIE) welcomes TAU as institutional member

Going relentlessly!

Incessant to expand its global engagement and visibility, the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) permeated to be a member-institution of the Institute of International Education (IIE) Network. The University’s application for membership has been approved in November 2016 following a meeting with Ms. Svetlozara Trocheva, IIE’s Senior Manager for Membership & Publications at the IIE Headquarters based in the United Nations Plaza, New York, USA.

The IIE, an independent nonprofit institution founded in 1919, is among the world's largest and most experienced international education and training organizations. Among the many IIE-administered programs are the Fulbright and Humphrey Fellowship Programs, the Gilman International Scholarship Program and the International Visitor Leadership Program, administered on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.

IIE’s major operations incorporate guiding higher education institutions in developing strategic partnerships, cultivating international multi-lateral research collaboration, building international education capacity at higher education institutions, fostering diplomacy through higher cooperation and connecting institutions for academic collaboration. From these activities, TAU endeavors to maximize its membership to promote its internationalization initiatives.

Among the 1,300 IIE networks all over the world, the TAU is the fourth member from the Philippines. The other institutional members from the country include Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST), Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) and Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP).