MANILA - Canada's province of Saskatchewan and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) signed on Thursday a landmark memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would create more opportunities for academic exchanges.

The Canadian Embassy in Manila said the MOU seeks to strengthen ties between the post-secondary institutions in the Philippines and Saskatchewan by creating opportunities for research collaboration and mobility for academics and students.

"Canada welcomes the signing of the MOU as a testament to our strong cooperation with the Philippines in higher education that is founded on joint collaboration achieved throughout the years," Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter MacArthur said.

"This MOU between CHED and the Ministry of Advanced Education of Saskatchewan is another building block on the already strong foundation from which people-to-people ties between our countries can further flourish in the years to come," he added.

Saskatchewan is the first provincial government to enter an academic partnership with the government of the Philippines.

In the virtual signing ceremony, Saskatchewan's Minister of Advanced Education Gene Makowsky said, "We are proud to bring recognition to Saskatchewan on a global platform and build further opportunities for students, faculty and researchers."

The MOU is a key component of Saskatchewan's new international education strategy that can contribute to the province's plans for economic recovery and population growth.

CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera III said the MOU would serve as a framework to create more programs in areas such as information and education exchange and research partnership.

The MOU aligns with CHED's efforts for stronger internationalization of Philippine higher education in areas of cooperation such as mobility, training, professional development, capacity-building, development of potential credit transfer instruments, and research collaboration opportunities, among others. (PNA)