Ambassador Claro Cristobal, director general of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) signs the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between FSI and Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) on June 6. CONTRIBUTED
WASHINGTON, DC – A leading school of international studies and the Philippines’ foreign service institute signed a cooperation agreement towards the advanced training of professional diplomats.
The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs – Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed at a special SAIS Philippines Roundtable held at the Johns Hopkins University on June 6.
The MOU establishes institutional ties and collaboration between the FSI and SAIS. Such collaboration enhances institutional capability and competence in line with the mission of The Johns Hopkins University, according to its representative.
“Our respective institutions are engaged in similar activities. which include training young professionals to play leading roles in conducting the foreign relations of our two countries,” Professor Peter Lewis, SAIS associate dean for academic affairs, said in his remarks.
“This type of training is vital in this fast moving, globalized and connected world but even more vital is the development of analytical skills and critical thinking which are the key elements in international relations and are essential tools for our students to succeed as diplomats, policy makers and leaders of NGOs,” Lewis added.
Ambassador Claro Cristobal who is the current director general of FSI represented it.
“Diplomacy is of crucial importance. For a country so small, we’ve got to have people to push, sell and work for the achievement of our aspirations and do the work that we need to perform for our country,” Cristobal said after the MOU signing.
Retired Ambassador John Maisto (left) US-Philippines Society president; Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Professor William Wise and Ambassador Claro Cristobal after the FSI-SAIS MOU signing. CONTRIBUTED
After the signing, Cristobal also presented a brief scan of the socio-political, socio-economic and foreign policy agenda of the incoming Philippine administration at the roundtable. US government officials, private sector representatives and Filipino American community members were at the gathering.
Professor William Wise, SAIS associate director of the Southeast Asia Studies Program also recognized Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr. for his contributions to the SAIS Philippines Roundtable and SAIS Southeast Asia Studies Program.
The SAIS Philippines Roundtable is the only forum in the United States that meets regularly to discuss Philippine affairs and the Philippines-US relationship. The special Roundtable event was co-sponsored by SAIS and the US-Philippines Society.