The Mandaue City Council has approved a revised Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the city government and Cebu Technological University (CTU) for the establishment of a CTU campus in the city.
The committee report recommending the revised agreement was approved during the council’s regular session, allowing Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano to sign and execute the agreement with CTU.
Councilor Carlo Fortuna said the partnership is intended to expand CTU’s presence in Mandaue while ensuring that its programs complement, rather than compete with, those of the Mandaue City College (MCC).
“The city government is just thinking of a harmonious relationship, at the same time makatabang ang CTU sa educational system sa Mandaue City College,” Fortuna said.
Under the agreement, CTU will establish its Mandaue Campus on a 2,000-square-meter portion of city-owned property at Norkis Park in Barangay Looc through a 50-year usufruct arrangement.
Fortuna said CTU and MCC will continue to operate separately, with CTU functioning as a university and MCC as a college.
The two institutions, however, will collaborate in providing additional academic opportunities to students.
Under the revised MOA, qualified MCC students may access CTU laboratories, libraries, research databases and specialized equipment, subject to CTU policies and availability.
MCC students may also cross-enroll in specialized laboratory subjects that require costly facilities or equipment that the city college may not have the financial capacity to maintain.
The agreement also provides for faculty mentorship, joint laboratory and research initiatives, and joint review sessions for board examinations.
Several safeguards were included in the MOA to prevent the CTU campus from directly competing with MCC’s existing programs.
CTU will be prohibited from offering undergraduate programs already offered by MCC, including education, information technology, business administration, public administration and industrial technology.
The agreement also contains an anti-poaching provision that prohibits CTU from recruiting, “pirating” or hiring active full-time MCC faculty members or administrative staff for its Mandaue campus.
The restriction will remain in effect for 24 months after an employee’s formal separation from MCC, unless the MCC Board of Trustees issues a written waiver or No Objection Certificate.
Fortuna said these provisions were included to ensure that the CTU campus will complement MCC and help expand educational opportunities in Mandaue without weakening the existing city college.
The revised MOA will take effect upon its execution by the city government and CTU.
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