Saint Louis University, through its School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA), is determined to even improve its Mining Engineering program as it signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Oceanagold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) on 16 August 2024 at the SLU Incubator Research, Innovation, and Business Center, Otto Hahn Building.
Representing Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Felina P. Espique, PhD signed the MOA with OGPI’s Acting Manager for External Affairs and Communications, Ms. Desiree D. Baldevino, representing Atty. Joan D. Adaci-Cattiling. Witnesses to the signing include SEA Associate Dean, Engr. Caroline Bautista; Office for Global Relation and Alumni Affairs Director Stephenie Busbus, PhD; Mines Geosciences Bureau Region 2 Regional Director, Engr Mario Ancheta; and SEA faculty and students.
By virtue of the MOA, OGPI will be donating to the University for the purchase of laboratory equipment to be used by the SEA Mining Engineering students.
Engr. Daphne Leal, SEA Chemical & Mining Engineering Department Head, welcomed the participants and expressed gratitude toward OGPI’s donation. The donation is deemed as a testament to SLU’s commitment to advance academic resources and to empower students, she said.
In the same vein, OGPI, through Ms. Baldevino, extended their thanks to SLU and expressed hope for another partnership in the succeeding year. Meanwhile, MGB RD Ancheta expressed aspiration that more students would enroll in the Mining Engineering program.
According to VP Espique, through SLU’s partnerships that usher assistance as that with OGPI, the University was able to elevate the Mining Engineering program. She cited that donations are “significant for the learning outcomes and skills development of our students.”
The undertaking, which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 4 Quality Education and SDG 17 Partnership for the Goals, manifests the continued industry support towards academic programs that ultimately to support student development and hands-on exposure to state-of-the-art equipment as those being used in actual industrial operations.
