Strengthening the University’s vision of collaborative cooperation and engagement with various institutions and agencies toward providing high-quality service to its students and clientele, a ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sorsogon State University (SorSU) and Small Enterprises Research and Development Foundation Inc. (SERDEF) took place during the Day 3 of the 6th Sorsogon Research, Development, and Training Conference (SoRDECon) on March 07, 2024, at the SorSU Audio-Visual Hall, Sorsogon City Campus, marking a proactive collaboration and partnership between SorSU & SERFDEF along with the areas of entrepreneurship education, research, extension, training, information programs, and other relative activities.
Through the active involvement of the SorSU Office of Research, Extension and Training through its Office of Extension and Services Training, led by Dr. Ana Cristina G. Fortes, the MOU signifies a shared commitment and vision of achieving a world-class status by providing education and leadership, among others, to respective clientele and stakeholders with the goal cultivating an enterprise culture, enhancing the business and entrepreneurial capacities, and producing capable and qualified human resources for the business and the academe.
Prior to the ceremonial MOU signing, Dr. Ana Cristina G. Fortes (Director, Extension and Training Services) provided a brief discussion of the agreement, highlighting possible projects and collaborative activities between SorSU and its partner agency.
The partnership primarily aims to strengthen and further enhance the various programs of SorSU and SERDEF, including areas of cooperation in (1) Entrepreneurship Education; (2) Research and publications; (3) Extension services and consultancy; (4) Training and capability building undertakings such as webinars, seminars, workshop, conferences, forums and other related events; (5) Advocacy and outreach; and (6) Partnerships and linkages with other institutions for a much wider network.
In his message of commitment, Prof. Melchor C. Morandante (President, SERDEF) emphasized that the enthusiasm of SorSU President De Jesus is truly motivating, which was one of the reasons they chose SorSU as their partner university.
“The SERDEF’s roadmap is to strengthen entrepreneurship education in the countryside, so we started having agreements and partnerships with different HEIs. Kaya po nandidito kami ngayon sa Sorsogon. I want the students to consider entrepreneurship kasi the problems in unemployment, only entrepreneurship can solve such problem[s]. Even in SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] — no poverty & no hunger, education, sustainable cities & communities, and generation of jobs & employment — only entrepreneurship can solve such issues. Please consider entrepreneurship.”
SERDEF, established in 1976, intends to assist in the promotion and development of entrepreneurship and small & medium enterprises, advocating its vision of fostering an enterprise culture in the Philippines.
As a response, SUC President III, Dr. Geraldine F. De Jesus, reaffirmed that the MOU signing marks the commencement of many meaningful collaborations between the University and SERDEF.
SUC President III, Dr. Geraldine F. De Jesus, and Dr. Ryan V. Dio (Vice President for Research, Extension and Training) represented the University, whereas Prof. Melchor C. Morandante (President, SERDEF) and Mr. Antonio Igcalinos (SERDEF Trustee) represented SERDEF. Further, the MOU signing was also attended by SorSU top management, RET officials & personnel, SorSU faculty & staff, and SorSUeno students. (SorSU PIO)
