By Cyrus A. Natividad
Dr. Necil C. Magno (5th from left) Philippine delegate to the Griffith University partnership discussion with other FAFQ member delegates headed by Mr. & Mrs. Mauro Somodio and counterpart Griffith -Australia delegates. The Partnership discussion centered on ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ and Griffith University partnership.
In a letter dated March 31, 2022, Dr. Florence P. Bogacia ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ VP for Administration and Finance (OIC Office of the President) at that time, granted a request of Dr. Necil C. Magno to be allowed to hold her classes online from Australia and at the same time hold folk-dance clinics for the Filipino-Australian community in Brisbane.
Dr. Magno, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ BPED Coordinator was accompanied Mr. Mauro Somodio, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Delegation Group Leader and Founding President- Filipino-Australian Foundation of Queensland Inc. (FAFQ Inc.), Mrs. Cecilia J. Somodio, Current FAFQ Inc. President, Engr Jay Alegata, Business Architect, Queensland Health (former SE Dept Head of ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ College of Engineering) and Ms. Macela May Somodio, Clinical Nurse, Queensland Health.
The delegation of Mr. Somodio met with Griffith University delegates at Mount Gravatt campus to discuss on building a strong and sustainable relationship between ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ and Griffith University. The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Ben Fenton-Smith, Director, International AEL Dean. The points of discussion were: Overview of Griffith University’s Arts, Education and Law Faculty; Overview of ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, and Overview of Filipino-Australian Foundation of Queensland Inc.
The discussion also included ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡-EPS collaborations to date and Areas of Interest including student mobility and New Colombo Plan (NCP); Co-development of sustainable Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects to offer such – Engagement Opportunities for students and lecturers from geographically distant locations in innovative, multicultural and collaborative learning experience; focus on pre-service teachers’ capacity to work in cross-cultural environments.
The Filipino-Australian Foundation of Queensland Inc. has been a benefactor of work-student scholars in the Philippines, particularly in ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡. Dr. Necil Capiñanes Magno, EdD is a FAFQ Scholar and multi-awarded faculty of ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡.