Celina R. Babauta
NORTHERN Marianas College and Sen. Celina R. Babauta are considering a partnership with Taiwan’s government for a nursing program.
In a statement to Variety on Friday, Babauta said she coordinated a “productive meeting” between NMC Vice President for Administration and Advancement Frankie Eliptico and Guam-based Taiwan Economic & Cultural Office Director General Chia Ping Liu.
According to Babauta, a “renowned nursing university in Taichung, Taiwan, has expressed a strong interest in establishing a partnership with NMC, recognizing the excellence of its nursing program.”
This collaboration, the senator said, “would provide valuable opportunities for both CNMI and Taiwanese students and faculty, enriching our educational exchange and strengthening our healthcare capacity.”
“This is a testament to the power of collaboration and proactive engagement, by bringing together key stakeholders, we have opened doors for our students to access world-class educational opportunities and strengthen the healthcare workforce in the CNMI,” Babauta said.
The nursing university in Taichung, she said, is known for its excellence in nursing education. NMC and the nursing university, she said, are now conducting introductory discussions.
This potential collaboration promises to bring valuable resources, expertise, and exchange opportunities to NMC’s nursing students and faculty, she said.
NMC is also awaiting a response from another university in Hualien, Taiwan, Babauta said. This initiative builds upon the strong foundation of the sister-city relationship between Saipan and Hualien, established under the leadership of former Mayor Juan B. Tudela in 2007, Babauta added.
“I remain enthusiastic about the possibilities that these partnerships hold for NMC and the CNMI,” she said.
“My goal is to leverage my professional relationships with key regional leaders to unlock new economic and educational opportunities for the CNMI. The potential partnership with the nursing university in Taichung, and the ongoing discussions with the university in Hualien, are prime examples of how strategic outreach can yield tangible results,” Babauta said.
