Philippine Consulate General, University of Dubai sign MoU

Sectors are going to benefit from the signing of a “very general” and “non-binding” Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between University of Dubai (UD) president Dr. Easa Mohammed Bastaki and Philippine Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates Ambrosio Brian Enciso III on Thursday.

Witnesses to the signing, held at the campus of the 29-year-old private institution, a fully-owned subsidiary of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, were UD-Academic vice president Prof. Hussain Al Ahmad, UD-External and International Relations Senior Executive Redempta Rodriguez-San Juan, UD-Computer Engineering Programme director/assistant professor Dr. Abigail Copiaco, Philippine Consulate General-Dubai Economic/Cultural/Public Diplomacy Vice Consul Jim Jimeno, Cultural Officer Jomarie Pabilla, and Public Diplomacy Officer Cyra Canto.

In the joint interview, Bastaki attributed the initiative, which according to him, should have been done earlier; to “Redempta. It is good that we have started the connection today because the MoU will add to the country. We need to collaborate with each other.”

Repeating his earlier statement about the UD openness to global partnerships, Bastaki was thankful for the consul general’s acceptance of “our invitation to become partners to many endeavours.”

Bastaki described the MoU as “very general” and “not time-bound.”

He clarified that much as among the “many endeavours” pertain to dual or multi-party research projects and student-faculty exchange programmes “in order that we stay strong,” the formal framework is not limited to universities.

“But we will work with universities. The good thing is that every country has its own strength. Every university has its own. We will work together. We also would serve the Filipino Community in the country. It is a win-win situation. Something good the Philippines has, we get from you. Something good that we have, we will give to you,” said Bastaki who had visited the Philippines, including the AMA University in Quezon City, having met with founder, Amable Aguiluz V in 2005.

Enciso explained that ascertaining relations with the academe is a “diplomatic and consular establishment” mission: “The academe is the bridge where you form young minds and future leaders; not just of politics but of industry.”

Another goal is the promotion of a “better understanding of the Philippines.”

Hence, the initial “proposal for a Philippine Studies Programme whether or not a full course, a micro-course, or even just a visiting lecture.”

Enciso termed the MoU as “non-binding and “not strictly time-bound. It is something that we would re-visit every now and then” especially so that it stipulates cooperation.

Enciso then backtracked to the consequent 30-minute conversation with Bastaki, upon their arrival at the campus located within the Dubai Academic City: “Now that I have discussed with the university president, it is not just about the Philippines. There is so much to learn from them in sustainability, in green energy, in being a NET-Zero energy campus which is very important to the Philippines also.”

“It is more than the Philippine Studies now. University of Dubai is also strong in technical courses. With the backing of the university leadership, we have an open door to discuss now what to do. We just have to discuss modalities and logistics, moving forward,” added Enciso, who assumed his tenure of office in the UAE in November 2025.

He was impressed with the solar energy and water treatment/recycling infrastructure of UD, which, since 2022, is the world’s second Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified, after the University of Hawaii.

UD is looking forward in welcoming more Filipino alumni. There have been few and some half-Filipinos who have performed “outstandingly.”

One is current UD “laboratory engineer” Sophia Nicole Jerez, the 2023-2024 summa cum laude from the BSc Electrical Engineering with Concentration in Communication Engineering Department.

Her professor-turned-colleague is another third culture kid, Dr. Copiaco, whose research works at the UD-Centre for Cyber-Security and Applied Resilience, are deemed valuable.

Copiaco is an academician because through it, she is able to help “shape” the minds and world outlook of future leaders, amidst the quick transformation of technology.

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter