TSU, WCC Advance Talks on Graduate Education Consortium, AI Integration

Tarlac State University (TSU) and World Citi Colleges (WCC) are exploring a consortium agreement for graduate education, faculty resource sharing, and research collaboration, alongside potential cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Knowledge Management, during an exploratory meeting held on September 17, 2026, via Zoom. 

Organized by the TSU Office of International Affairs and Linkages (TSU-OIAL), the meeting focused on the proposed consortium for the offering and implementation of graduate programs under the College of Business and Accountancy and the College of Public Administration.

During the discussion, TSU-OIAL Director Dr. Ninez B. Tulo explored key aspects of the proposed consortium, including its intended start and duration, the roles and responsibilities of TSU faculty members, and the additional support and opportunities that WCC could provide to further strengthen faculty development and collaboration. 

WCC Dean of the Graduate School Dr. Marmelo Abante shared that the proposed collaboration could run for three cohorts over a five-year period, with the consortium for graduate programs targeted to begin in the next academic year. A shared-faculty arrangement was also proposed, under which faculty members from TSU and WCC could teach at each other's institutions.

The proposed faculty-sharing arrangement prompted further discussion on the scope and structure of the consortium. TSU Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) Director Dr. Robert Marcos emphasized the need to clearly define the nature of the partnership, including whether TSU would supplement WCC's existing faculty requirements and what opportunities would be available to both institutions. Dr. Marcos also stressed that the proposed programs must align with TSU's Outcomes-Based Teaching and Learning (OBTL) standards and requirements, particularly in consideration of the University's Level IV accreditation status.

Meanwhile, TSU President Dr. Jasper Jay N. Mendoza highlighted another potential area of collaboration between the two institutions. He shared that, in his discussions with WCC President Dr. Raymond Patrick V. Guico, WCC expressed its willingness to support TSU in pursuing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly in Knowledge Management.

Mendoza noted that Knowledge Management is among WCC's best practices, which TSU is interested in adopting and potentially integrating into its own institutional processes. The initiative could provide an additional avenue for knowledge sharing and innovation beyond the proposed graduate education consortium.

The two institutions agreed to proceed with the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize the proposed collaboration. The MOU signing is targeted for October 7, 2026, at WCC.