President Shirley C. Agrupis and Vice President for Planning and Finance, Engr. Ami Ruth R. Cocson of Mariano Marcos State University (the Philippines) paid a courtesy call on President Hisataka Moriwaki on March 7, 2018.

Mariano Marcos State University was established in 1978 as a comprehensive institution of higher learning at the Province of Ilocos Norte (northwest corner of Luzón Island). President Shirley C. Agrupis graduated from the United Graduate School of Agricultural Science of Gifu University in 2000, and was appointed to be the new president of Mariano Marcos State University in 2017.

In the meeting with President Hisataka Moriwaki, President Agrupis expressed her strong wish for concluding a university-level exchange agreement with Gifu University to facilitate active exchanges among students and the faculties in the near future.

In his reply, President Moriwaki said, "It is a great honor for us to see that one of our Gifu University graduates has become the new president of the prestigious university in the Philippines. We all look forward to building a long-term, strong relationship with Mariano Marcos State University.

Diverse and dynamic exchanges are expected between the two universities in the years to come.