Text by: Angelou C. Mendoza
Photo by: Joseph A. Bautista
Officials of the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) and the University of Adelaide (UA) are planning to expand their existing partnership on health education as discussed in a meeting at the boardroom of Henry Sy Sr. Hall on April 24, 2024. The proposed enhancement will include collaborative training in the Adelaide Health Simulation – a state-of-the-art technological simulation facility in Australia that enables students to practice their clinical training without risk to patient safety. Aside from this, the proposed expansion of the partnership will include an anatomical embalming course and an educational tour for the faculty and students of the UPM-based National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions (NTTCHP) to UA.
Prof. Jessica Gallagher, Deputy Vice Chancellor of External Engagement, and Lori Hocking, Executive Director of Education Transformation, both from the University of Adelaide in South Australia, voiced their interest in delving into disciplines beyond health and medicine, such as humanities, social sciences, and computer sciences. They aim to explore the integration of technology, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, into healthcare and research endeavors.
“We started to look at how we can continue to extend our links beyond obviously the strong connection that exists around health and medical and the work that we’ve been doing,” Prof. Gallagher said in a meeting at the boardroom of Henry Sy Sr. Hall on April 24, 2024.
Hocking emphasized the importance of considering various programs in the short course arena, while also aligning them with the competency frameworks of different government agencies. The said courses are in the areas of digitizing the processes of government agencies, entrepreneurship, innovation, commercialization of research, and artificial intelligence.
“There are a number of programs that we should be considering in the short course space but, what we should be doing is also linking that up to all the competency frameworks that exist under the various government agencies. But I don’t think we can do any of these without partners in the Philippines working on the ground. So, we would be looking for collaboration opportunities with UP, to be able to work with us on addressing some of those problems as well,” she added.
Chancellor Michael L. Tee welcomed the various proposals of UA and expressed anticipation for the upcoming courses and areas of further collaboration.
“I’m offering the services of the whole university. We’ll be able to provide your local counterpart with similar knowledge or know-how. And aside from contributing to your international outlook, we’ll be able to provide the local setting, and the local context of all these future developments,” Chancellor Tee said.
Founded in 1874, the University of Adelaide is the third oldest university in Australia. As part of its 150th anniversary celebration this year, the UA representatives visited the Philippines to reconnect with their alumni and celebrate milestones in their chosen fields. ■
