The President of Flinders’ significant university partner in the Philippines will be among the first international visitors to check out the new Hub and Plaza and Tonsley facilities during a visit hosted by the School of Social and Policy Studies (SSPS) tomorrow.

Reverend Father Gilbert Sales, President (Vice-Chancellor) of Saint Louis University, accompanied by Reverend Father Renillo Sta Ana, Board Member of St Louis University and President of Saint Mary’s University, will be welcomed to Flinders by SSPS Dean Associate Professor Debra King.

Saint Louis University, a private Catholic university located in the city of Baguio, is the largest university north of Manila, with more than 32,000 students (not including the attached elementary and high schools).

The top performing School in the Philippines for its Pharmacy and Medical Technology (Medical Laboratory Science) programs, it is also in the top ten for Law, Medicine, Engineering and Architecture.

The University is a valued partner in the Philippines Outbound Mobility Program, which currently includes Flinders Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Social Work students. Now in its second year, the program has been overseen by Dr Mario Trinidad and Mary Duncan (Manager, Field Education) in SSPS.

Associate Professor King said she was looking forward to discussing future student mobility partnerships in social work, and facilitating discussions to develop other areas such as Medical Laboratory Science, Radiology, Medicine, Nursing and Engineering.

Reverend Father Gilbert Sales and Reverend Father Renillo Sta Ana will also meet Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Nancy Cromar, International Centre Executive Director Sebastian Raneskold, Associate Professor Caroline Ellison from Flinders’ Community Inclusion Unit, and Garry Taylor, Manager of the School of Medicine.

During their visit, the delegation will have the opportunity to sample lunch in Flinders’ new Alere Restaurant, before heading to Tonsley to look at the facility’s medical labs.