Ateneo de Manila (ADMU) President Jose Ramon T. Villarin, S.J. (right) and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) President and Principal Professor Colin Bailey sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the first transnational education partnership between ADMU and QMUL. Photo by Stacy Danika Garcia

17 July 2018 LONDON—The Philippine Embassy in London witnessed representatives from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) ink a pioneering partnership in transnational education (TNE) aimed at offering programmes on digital innovation and big data science in London on 17 July 2018.

ADMU President Jose Ramon T. Villarin, S.J. and ADMU Vice President for University and Global Relations Jose M. Cruz, S.J. together with QMUL President and Principal Professor Colin Bailey and QMUL Vice-Principal (International) Professor Colin B. Grant signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the joint development of programmes aimed at equipping students with the skills needed to compete in a global workplace.

 Philippine Ambassador Antonio Manuel Lagdameo said the agreement augurs well for Philippine-British relations. "Education and academic exchange play an important role in fostering collaborative environments and in strengthening people-to-people connections," he said.

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Stacy Danika S. Alcantara witnessed the signing ceremony on behalf of the Embassy.

“This partnership will build another bridge between our two peoples,” said Fr. Villarin.  “I am hopeful that this exchange is more than just people moving but ideas, resources, exchanging and enriching one another.”

 The MSc Innovation through Media and Arts Technology (IMAT) will be the first programme to launch under the QMUL-ADMU partnership.  The said programme aims to develop students who will be able to contribute significantly to the global creative economy. The programme is designed to bring together the arts, design, and technology.  It will equip students with advanced technical and creative skills that will enable them to apply digital innovation skills to traditional craft and design.

The MSc Data Science (Big Data), on the other hand, aims to teach students how to draw meaning from of large datasets.  The MSc Innovation through Media and Arts Technology (IMAT) is slated to be launched sometime next year while the MSc Data Science (Big Data) is currently on its development phase.

“It’s a game-changer.  Queen Mary University of London, one of the world’s finest universities is engaging with one of the top universities in the Philippines around some very exciting programmes that will help drive prosperity for next generation leaders in the Philippines in the creative industry and in big data,” said Prof. Grant.