Local and international students can now take agri- and eco-tourism courses in Sagay City through the StudyPH program of the Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology and the Commission on Higher Education, which was launched at the school’s SUNN Hotel on Wednesday, March 15.
Study in the Philippines (StudyPH) program is a CHED initiative to position the country as a global education hub, while providing opportunities for “internationalization-at-home to the locals” through increasing international learners in the Philippines, a press release from Sagay City said.
NONESCOST is one of the state colleges and universities that have partnered with CHED for this project.
CHED’s Acting Deputy Director for International Affairs Service Lily Freida Milla said that state universities like Ramon Magsaysay SU, Kalinga SU, and Bulacan SU are also part of StudyPH program.
Sagay Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr., NONESCOST President Renante Egcas, and Milla signed a memorandum of agreement to forge a partnership for the implementation of StudyPH program in the city on March 15.
The StudyPH program in NONESCOST is focused on giving free courses on agri- and eco-tourism that students, both local and international, can access and take it online.
Milla said the program is a way of showing their commitment to helping to develop and support the tourism industry.
“Education drives tourism. The products of educational institutions are products that can be used for tourism,” she said, adding “this is a novel and trailblazing way to supporting the industry.”
Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District) said that these engagements with various institutions are ways to progress, sighting that NONESCOST is on its bid to become the State University of Northern Negros.
He added that the program will open opportunities to explore more ways to elevate the quality of education at NONESCOST, specifically in agri- and eco-tourism, given that the city has recently been listed as one of the Top 100 Green Destinations in the world.
Egcas thanked the stakeholders for making the project possible. StudyPH will be the school’s tool to help the country in terms of academic internationalization, he said.
“As we go beyond borders, we are happy and humbled to be able to take our city with us and share our corner of this world with the academic community,” he said.*