The University of the Philippines (UP) hosted a three-day workshop/meeting with officials of the Harvard University from March 13 to 15. The activity aimed to effectively start cooperation between UP, the country’s national university, and Harvard, the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.
On March 13, UP President Danilo Concepcion, together with members of UP’s organizing committee, met with the Harvard delegation headed by Dr. Margot Gill, Administrative Dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University. The meeting was held at the UP Board of Regents Room in Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, to formally start the discussions on how UP and Harvard faculty, researchers, and students can collaborate on academic programs, courses, and projects. After the meeting, the group proceeded to the auditorium of the Institute of Biology, College of Science, for an open forum with students. A meeting with UP faculty members was held at the Auditorium of the College of Science Administration Building.
The UP Diliman Information Office (DIO) took the Harvard delegation on a tour around campus. A welcome dinner at the UP Executive House capped the day’s activities.
An information session for students and a meeting with UP Manila faculty was held on March 14. On March 15, the delegation met with the Harvard Club of the Philippines in Makati City.
The Harvard University delegation was comprised of: Dr. Gill; Dr. Sheila Thomas, Dean of Academic Programs and Diversity and Director of Diversity and Minority Affairs of the Harvard Medical School; Dr. Ted Gilman, Executive Director of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs; Dr. Donald Pfister, Asa Gray Professor of Systematic Botany and Curator at the Farlow Library and Herbarium of Cryptogamic Botany; and, Kamille Washington, Program Manager for International Affairs, Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
The organizing committee of UP was headed by Officer-in-Charge Rhodora Azanza of the Office of the UP Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of the Office of International Linkages. The members included Dr. Jose Maria Balmaceda, Dr. Grace Aguiling-Dalisay, Dr. Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, Dr. Armando Crisostomo, Dr. Tammy dela Rosa, Dr. Rizalinda de Leon, Dr. Rodney Dofitas, and Dr. Gerardo Legaspi. (Fred Dabu, UP MPRO)
