Berlin. 3 September 2012. – The first batch of seven students from the Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences will begin their exchange program with Silliman University in Dumaguete City for the winter semester of 2012-2013.
“This student exchange signals closer cooperation in the field of education,” Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad said upon handing the students’ documents to Professor Dr. Axel Bader, who handles the program for Ingolstadt University.
Prof Bader, who teaches external accounting and international taxation at the Ingolstadt University, called on Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad, to discuss Philippine-German cooperation in the field of education and to finalize the documents required of the visiting students.
The two universities have agreed to cooperate in admitting exchange students, enabling German students at Ingolstadt to spend their foreign guest semester at Silliman, and Silliman students to study for a semester in Ingolstadt. The German students will attend full credit courses at the College of Business Administration and the College of Computer Studies in the second semester of this school year.
Ambassador Natividad briefed Professor Bader on the developments in the Philippine educational system, including alignment to the Bologna process such as the K+12 school system. They also discussed the possibility for German students to undergo practicum in the Philippines, with the German dual system of education, particularly that of the Ingolstadt University, as a model, as well as scholarships for Philippine students to Germany.
According to Professor Bader, the Philippines, which is considered one of the so-called emerging markets, is an interesting destination for business students. Prof. Dr. Bader also thanked Ambassador Natividad for the Embassy’s active support for the pioneer exchange students, especially facilitating documentary requirements for their academic applications at Silliman University.
The Philippine Embassy in Berlin supports closer academic cooperation as part of its cultural diplomacy efforts. It was also instrumental in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The Manila Times College and the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (Goethe University) in 2011.
