Xavier University, through its Office of International Cooperation and Networking (OICN) and INTI International University and Colleges in Malaysia, officially formed a collaboration to develop and pursue activities for academic partnership, cooperation, and collaboration in education in order to advance teaching, learning, employability, and research.

XU President Fr Mars P Tan, SJ, and INTI Chief Executive Officer, Chong Kok Wai, were the primary signatories of the Memorandum of Agreement between the two institutions. The ceremonial MOA Signing was held on October 26 via Zoom.

OICN Director Dr. Shiella Balbutin expressed relief and excitement that XU and INTI have finally sealed the partnership after seven months of talks. Then, VP for Higher Education, Dr. Juliet Dalagan, shared to everyone how, during the pandemic, XU seized the opportunity to connect to the world and how surprised she was that it has become easier to forge international relations. 

Mr. Jesus Tinawin, VP for International Business Development of INTI, also shared how this initiative came about and how he is looking forward to executing the MOA’s provisions. According to the agreement, both institutions will collaborate on Study Abroad Information Open Day, academic progression placement, enrollment for Pre-University Foundation Diploma, Bachelor’s and Master’s, and mobility exchange programs. 

In his remarks during the MOA signing, Fr Mars expressed how much he was looking forward to the significant partnership. He added that he was pretty pleased about the last part of the MOA where it indicated “any other collaboration that is mutually beneficial to both institutions,” which only means there could be more collaborations in the future between the two universities. “This collaboration is timely as we are preparing to move to our new campus in Manresa, where we need innovations of our curriculum, program design, and articulation, as we also adapt to the new normal”, Fr Mars added. 

Mr. Chong Kok Wai also expressed the same excitement for the partnership as he sees these initiatives as instrumental for the students as they become the “game-changers of tomorrow.” 

Witnesses to the MOA signing included OICN Director Dr Shiella Balbutin., VP for Higher Education Dr Juliet Dalagan and the deans and directors of XU along with the officials from INTI International University and Colleges.