NEWS FROM UPV

UPV inks MOA with Korean School on Language Teaching

Fresh on the trail of a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chosun University of Korea on February 12, 2009, UP Visayas signed a Memorandum of Agreement with EDUFORE International School and OTEEN English Education of Korea on February 27, 2009 at the UPV Iloilo City campus.

“UP Visayas has always welcomed linkages with various academic institutions, both local and foreign, [having recently] signed an MOU with Chosun University to facilitate academic exchange programs,” said UPV Chancellor Minda J. Formacion in her welcome remarks. She added that UPV has had numerous linkages in the past with institutions such as Kangnung National University, Korea Nazarene University, Silla University of Korea, and Kagoshima University and Tokyo University of Japan, to name a few.

According to Dr. Aurora Fe Bautista, President of EDUFORE International School in branch based in Jaro, Iloilo City, EDUFORE is short for “Education in the Forest where forest is symbolic of the authentic world, short of saying that education should happen in the real world and not in the confines of the four walls of the classroom.”

The MOA stipulates that UPV, through the CAS Language Program, shall design a training course in English Language Skills Enhancement for Korean clients of OTEEN Incorporated doing business under the name of EDUFORE International School and OTEEN English Education.
The primary objective of the course will be to provide opportunities for Korean trainees to develop their skills in functional English for social purposes. To achieve this end, UPV is to provide qualified lecturers and prepare instructional and other supplementary materials for all the training participants.

At the end of the course, UPV is to award award a certificate of training in the name of each participant who succesfully completes the required minimum attendance and succesfully delivers the final requirement.

Chancellor Formacion signed in behalf of UPV while President Chung Ryul Lee signed for EDUFORE. Visiting with him were EDUFORE Korean representatives and officials namely, Ihnhwan Khong, Marketing Manager; Shin Seung Chan, CEO; Kang Heon Seung, Maketing Director; Eric Lee, COO; and Pak Ji Young, Marketing Assistant Manager.

Also present during the signing were UPV officials, faculty and staff as well as EDUFORE Chief Executive Officer in the Philippines, Clarita Tubungbanwa and its Secretary Josephine Plana.

by Lyncen M. Fernandez