Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines – Dr. Shiella C. Balbutin, Development Communication (DevCom) professor and Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Networking (OICN), has joined the Xavier University (XU) delegation for an educational workshop at the University of Alicante in Spain from June 12 to 16. The workshop is part of the Erasmus+ geoDRR (Geomatics for Disaster Risk Reduction) program.

Bringing together participants from various countries, this workshop aims to equip academic, administrative, and technical staff from partner countries’ Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with the necessary knowledge, skills, and competences to effectively develop the Master Training Program (MTP) in their respective institutions.

As the only non-engineer in the delegation, Dr. Balbutin provides administrative support for the project, particularly in the “exploitation and dissemination” component. Her valuable participation not only contributes to the successful implementation of the project but also sparks meaningful conversations on the role of communication in disaster risk reduction.

Dr. Balbutin is joined by Engr. Dexter Lo, Vice President for Social Development and faculty member of the College of Engineering, as well as Dr. Hercules Cascon, Dean of the College of Engineering. Together, they form a dynamic team representing Xavier University in this international training program.

This opportunity allows Dr. Balbutin and the XU delegation to enhance their expertise, exchange best practices, and establish international connections. Their active involvement in the project underscores Xavier University’s commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation in disaster risk reduction efforts.