Over the span of five months subsequent to the high-yielding benchmarking visit conducted by Huachiew Chalermprakeit University (HCU) at Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU), a consequential mobility initiative followed, encompassing a cohort of 44 students and three professors from OLFU’s College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS).
The awe-inspiring transformative PASMETH-HCU International Student Mobility Program, transpiring from April 29 to May 12, 2024, facilitated an immersive experience for the Fatimanian contingent at the Thai institution, fortifying the budding international rapport between two, well-esteemed higher academic institutions.
Under the leadership of Asst. Prof. Sucha Chulsomlee, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Technology at Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, the Fatimanian delegation was graciously received through an official invitation extended to Dr. Jose Jurel Nuevo, Dean of the College of Medical Laboratory Science at OLFU.
Comprising 44 students hailing from OLFU’s Valenzuela and Pampanga campuses, notably from the third- and fourth-year levels, the delegation commenced their onsite training on 4 May 2024, extending through 12 May 2024. During this period, students engaged in a structured curriculum encompassing diverse domains such as hematology, microscopy, parasitology, forensics, microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, chemistry, blood banking, and clinical correlations.
Echoing the ethos of educational exchange underscored during HCU’s visit to OLFU in October 2023, the program at the Thai institution included a cultural immersion component, affording Filipino students an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the local gastronomy, cultural heritage, and the people of Thailand.
Read: Thailand’s HCU visits OLFU; pact in academic, cultural areas sealed
This cultural exchange was emblematic of both HCU and OLFU’s steadfast commitment to fostering educational diversity, multiculturalism, and fostering stronger ties with the international community through cross-cultural understanding.
Facilitating the smooth execution of the mobility program were Internship Coordinators Sheila Mai Rocabo and Jonna Tacsay, alongside CMLS Program Head Sherlyn Joy Isip, all of whom also partook in a tailored training regimen designed to enhance their professional and academic arsenal.
In addition, the Fatimanian contingent was also granted access to the laboratories housed within Thailand’s National Blood Centre, administered by the Thai Red Cross Society, providing them with invaluable insights into the operational dynamics of a prominent healthcare facility.
The culmination of the formal training was marked by a closing ceremony convened on 9 May 2024, wherein HCU Vice President for Academic Affairs Jonathan Rante Carreon personally commended the dedication exhibited by the Filipino delegates in furthering their international academic pursuits.
Notably, this collaborative endeavor between OLFU and HCU represents one of the swiftest alliances facilitated by the Center for Professional and Development Partnership (CPDAP) at OLFU, solidifying productive mobility initiatives and sustained partnership programs between these institutions. –Raymond Lumagsao
