Saint Louis University (SLU), through the Office of Global Relations and Alumni Affairs (OGRAA) and the School of Advanced Studies (SAS), marked a landmark international linkages advancement by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Universitas Klabat (UNKLAB) of North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The signing ceremony took place on 11 June 2025 at the Alejandro Roces Board Room, Fr. Burgos Administrative Center, SLU Main Campus.
The MOU was signed by Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, SLU President; and Danny Ivan Rantung, PhD, UNKLAB President, who was represented by Prof. Reagen Mandias, MM, MSN, Head of the Nursing Profession Education Program; and Prof. James Maramis, MAN, Faculty of Nursing.
The MOU establishes an academic partnership between the two institutions, encompassing joint education and training programs, faculty exchanges, collaborative research, community engagement initiatives, and the exchange of academic and research publications and information.
The signing was witnessed by representatives from the SLU Administration namely: SAS Dean Faridah Kristi C. Wetherick,PhD; OGRAA Director Stephenie O. Busbus, PhD; and SAS Graduate Program Coordinator of Nursing Mark Job Bascos, RN, PhD. Also present were five UNKLAB Nursing Program professors who will form the first cohort of graduate students as they will be enrolling in the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Program of SAS: Elisa Anderson, Frendy Pitoy Fernando, Ailine Yoan Sanger, Lean Andy Shintya, and Abigail Asfas Tandilangi.
“We truly hope and pray that this MOU will be mutually beneficial for both our universities,” expressed Prof. Maramis. “We have three areas to focus on next year—education, research, and community projects—and we hope to collaborate with SLU in all of them,” he added.
In response, Fr. Sales said, “We are happy to be able to help and partner with you. I believe this program will grow and expand further in the future. We look forward to that. Thank you for the trust and confidence in SLU.”
This partnership between SLU and UNKLAB aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
