MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN …
Wishing to strengthen friendly relations between the two countries in the sphere of higher education,
Recognizing the importance of higher education and the training of scientific and pedagogical personnel in the national development of each Country,
Being interested in the need to strengthen cooperation and mutual assistance in the provision of higher education and the professional training of scientific and pedagogical personnel,
Convinced that cooperation will benefit both Parties,
Have reached mutual understanding in the following:
1. Parties, in accordance with national legislation, will promote cooperation in the field of higher education and professional training of scientific and pedagogical personnel, faculty and professors in recognized universities and institutes of higher education.
This Memorandum is the basis for the approval by Parties of academic mobility programs in specific jointly defined areas of cooperation.
Specific areas of cooperation are determined by the Parties through the Joint Working Group established in accordance with paragraph 3.
2. Parties in accordance with national legislation will contribute to:
– Exchange of faculty, administrative and management personnel and students between recognized universities and institutes of higher education of both Countries within the framework of jointly defined cooperation programs that will have a mutual benefit for both Parties;
– Encouraging direct cooperation between recognized universities and institutes of higher education in both Countries through the conclusion of agreements between them within the framework of the provisions of this Memorandum;
– Exchange of information on the system and structure of higher education in both Countries, the qualifications of higher education, the educational standards of higher education, the evaluation of performance results, the methodology;
– Facilitate discussion on a possible Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Russian Federation on mutual recognition of education, qualifications and academic degrees;
– Exchange of methodological literature, teaching aids, information on cooperation opportunities for research in higher education;
– Exchange of training programs for recognized universities and institutes of higher education of both Parties and promotion of participation in educational congresses, conferences, seminars, symposiums, training courses and exhibitions.
3. Parties will create a Joint Working Group (JWG) to promote the implementation of the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding.
The JWG will approve specific programs and actions for their implementation that will be undertaken in accordance with national legislation of each Party.
The JWG will include representatives designated by the Parties.
JWG will meet annually, alternately in the Republic of the Philippines and in the Russian Federation.
4. Any discrepancy in the interpretation and application of the provisions of this Memorandum will be resolved through consultations and negotiations between the Parties.
5. This Memorandum is not an international treaty and therefore does not establish the rights and obligations of the Parties.
By mutual written agreement of the Parties, this Memorandum may be amended or supplemented, which will be formalized by the relevant protocols.
Such amendment will take effect in accordance with the subparagraph 1 of the paragraph 7 of the present Memorandum.
6. This Memorandum will be applied from the date of receipt by the Russian Party of a written notification from the Philippine Party on the implementation of relevant domestic procedures.
7. This Memorandum is applied for a period of five (5) years and is automatically extended for the next five (5) years if the Parties do not notify each other through diplomatic channels in writing at least six (6) months before the expiry of the next five-year period.
This Memorandum does not terminate the implementation of cooperation in the field of higher education between recognized universities and institutes of higher education in accordance with the existing academic and educational needs by mutual decision of the Parties.
The termination of this Memorandum will not affect the cooperative programs implemented by the Parties until its full completion.
Signed “13” November 2017 year in two copies each in the Russian and English languages. Both texts are equally valid. In the event of any discrepancy of interpretation the English text will be used.
For the Commission on Higher
Education of the Republic of the Philippines
For the Ministry of Education and
Science of the Russian Education
Entry into Force: February 2, 2018