COTABATO CITY — The Mindanao State University (MSU) — the country’s second largest academic system — has expanded its international linkages following its recent entry to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) body. The Marawi City-based MSU main campus “was officially accepted as a member of the prestigious ASEAN Fisheries Education Network (FEN) during the opening program of the 13th International Fisheries Symposium 2025 held in Indonesia on Oct. 7,” the office of new MSU president Atty. Paisalin “Popoy” Tago announced in a statement. Tago “formally accepted the Certificate of Membership from the ASEAN-FEN Board Chairperson, Prof. Mohammad Amin Alamsjah, Ir., M.Si., Ph.D. and the Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science of the Universitas Diponegoro, Dr. Agus Trianto,” the statement said. The Asean-FEN is a consortium of university-based institutions dedicated to fisheries and aquaculture across the Southeast Asia region, bidding to support and enhance the fisheries and aquaculture sector through education, research, and outreach services. The MSU system’s official entry to the international group jived with Tago’s signing on the same day of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Prof. Dr. Suharnomo S.E., university rector of Undip, at the Universitas Diponegoro in Semarang, Indonesia. The MOU was the first official undertaking in the international scene by Tago since his investiture last Aug. 13 as MSU’s ninth president. Before he was named MSU president by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 27, Tago was serving as a deputy speaker of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and as minister of the autonomous region’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications in concurrent capacity. The MSU main campus was established in Marawi City in 1961 under Republic Act 1387 (as amended) authored by then-senator Domocao “Ahmad” Alonto Sr. After its formal operations for the academic year 1962-1963, the MSU campus has gradually evolved into a huge university system, now covering at least eight satellite campuses and several secondary units across southern Philippines. The academic system’s campuses, notably the autonomous satellite branches in General Santos and Iligan cities, have been noted for official linkages with academic institutions abroad. The MSU-General Santos City campus has been acknowledged for establishing collaborative undertakings with counterparts in Japan, Malaysia and other foreign states.
