Text by Jennifer Manongdo
Photos by Jericho Paolo Mabansag
The University of the Philippines Manila is addressing the global demand for highly skilled nursing professionals by opening its doors for in-service and clinical training opportunities to nursing students of Bangladesh.
Furthermore, UP Manila will offer master’s degrees in nursing education to qualified Bangladeshi nurses, upholding a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson, Dr. Shirley Agrupis and the Ambassador of Bangladesh, Mohammad Sarwar Mahmood, on April 1, 2026 at CHED auditorium in Quezon City.
Possible Areas of Collaboration
“At UP Manila, we are honored to participate in this initiative to advance human capital through collaborative development of human health resources,” Chancellor Michael Tee said during a meeting in UP Manila with representatives from the Embassy of Bangladesh, Department of Foreign Affairs and CHED following the MOU signing activity.
Dr. Agrupis framed the meeting as a benchmarking opportunity for officials of the Embassy of Bangladesh to study the systems of UP Manila and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in delivering quality health sciences education and medical service.
She said the partnership will open opportunities not just for exchanging expertise but also for aligning approaches to further strengthen both countries’ healthcare systems.
“UP-PGH offers a useful model of alignment where training, research, and public service are deliberately connected,” Chairperson Agrupis said in her message delivered by CHED Commissioner Ricmar Aquino.
She added that the partnership is mutually beneficial as both countries can learn from each other particularly in the aspects of scaling nursing education and strengthening workforce capacity.
“We approach this as a two-way exchange and there is equal value in understanding how Bangladesh is addressing similar challenges, particularly in scaling nursing education and strengthening workforce capacity. Now, this is also aligned with the Commission’s agenda where we advance human capital development and pursue meaningful internationalization,” she emphasized.
Aside from the abovementioned endeavors, the MOU establishes a framework for cooperation in key areas such as student and faculty exchanges, joint training, and professional development.
“We have three options. One is transnational education. Second, in-service training so they will have enough skills and learn from expert nurses at the Philippine General Hospital, and also the master’s degree offering and even the Ph.D. offering at the College of Nursing,” Chancellor Tee said.
Ambassador Mahmood described the MOU as a meaningful opportunity to foster long-term collaboration and a milestone in strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the Philippines.
“The partnership also aligns with Bangladesh’s broader development priorities, including strengthening our healthcare workforce, enhancing the quality of medical education, and expanding international cooperation in the health sector. At the same time, we also recognize the Philippines’ global leadership in nursing education and its longstanding reputation for excellence in this field,” he said.
Presentations
The meeting included presentations of relevant topics such as the history and curriculum of the College of Nursing by Associate Professor Peter James Abad, the SHS ladderized program by Vice Chancellor Bernadette Heizel Reyes, and the best practices of the nursing and public health service by Operating Room Chief Nurse, Rony Fajilagutan.
Meanwhile, Philippine General Hospital Director, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi discussed PGH’s upcoming initiatives including infrastructure development.
The meeting included a tour to the skills and simulation laboratory of the college of nursing.#
READ MORE:
#FP6, #FP8 #AccessibleUPLeadership
