College of Engineering establishes exchange with college in Philippines

The Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering at Rowan University recently entered into a five-year exchange agreement with the University of the Philippines, Diliman that will provide students and faculty at both schools with an opportunity to study, research and work at the other.

Efforts to develop the exchange program began more than a year ago, initiated by Rowan University Board of Trustee member Lita Abele, a native of the Philippines who now lives in Mantua Township. Through her, Rowan administrators met with representatives of the Philippine Consulate in New York City. Consul General Mario Lopez DeLeon and Consul Deputy General Zaldy Patron arranged visits for Rowan leaders to the Philippines and for UPD administrators to Rowan.

“They were very interested in what we are accomplishing at Rowan, including work in biomedical engineering, water resources, disaster response and environmental engineering,” said Dr. Anthony Lowman, dean of the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering.

At the start, each university will send two students a year to the other. Faculty exchanges will follow. Two Rowan students currently are studying and conducting research  in UPD in Quezon City.

“We want to send undergraduate students, particularly those in environmental and biomedical engineering, for a summer abroad,” said Lowman, who noted UPD is an Asian leader in engineering education, especially in environmental engineering.

He added that Rowan also will welcome biomedical engineering graduate students from UPD, with the goal of preparing them to return to their own country to obtain university faculty positions and help build biomedical engineering programs there.

“We want to expand our international footprint,” the dean said. “We look to attract the best and brightest students no matter where they are in the world.”

That will be a benefit for all, Abele indicated. “It is an advantage for students from both countries to study aboard, learn from different people and explore other cultures,” she said. “As a member of the board of trustees, I am happy this partnership materialized and will benefit the Filipino-American community as well as students at Rowan University.”