The Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA), under the leadership of President Dr. Alberto N. Naperi, facilitated a Phil-Taiwan Collaboration Forum on March 13, 2025, at the university boardroom. The forum aimed to connect local and state universities and colleges (LSUCs) and higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Bicol Region with international universities, specifically in Taiwan.
Dr. Naperi, also the concurrent Chairman of the Philippine Association for State Universities and Colleges Region V (PASUC V), emphasized the significance of international partnerships for academic advancement and student and faculty development. “As Chairman of PASUC V, representing the nine SUCs in Bicol, I believe this collaboration will position the Bicol region as a center of educational development,” he stated.
“We aim to develop partnerships that yield impactful outputs for both our institutions and the whole humanity, producing quality graduates for sustainable human resource development.”
The forum featured presentations from representatives of key Taiwanese institutions. China University of Science and Technology (CUST), located in Taipei, offers programs in Engineering, Commerce and Management, Health Science and Technology, and Aviation. CUST President Dr. Jong Tar Kou highlighted the university’s focus on technology and management education, inviting attendees to experience “a fantastic place for your future.”
Meanwhile, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology (YUMT), based in Hsinchu City, specializes in medical and health-related fields. YUMT representative, Prof. Chi-Kang Wang, CUST International Affairs Director Joseph Lee, and CEO Ying Jye Huang were also present.
Following the forum, CBSUA and ten other educational institutions in Bicol signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with CUST and YUMT. These MOUs aim to strengthen global partnerships and enhance opportunities for students, faculty, and staff through: faculty and staff exchanges, student exchanges, exchange of academic publications and information, joint research initiatives, joint lectures and symposia, collaborative academic programs, including cultural activities and field visits, and joint collaborative grant proposals.
The participating educational institutions includes Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST), Sorsogon State University (SorSU), Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT), Camarines Norte State College (CNSC), Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC), Partido State University (ParSU), Bicol University (BU), and Naga College Foundation (NCF), and Don Servillano Platon Memorial National High School.
Dr. DeAnna C. Regnim, OIC-President of BISCAST, expressed gratitude to CBSUA for facilitating the forum, noting that the MOUs would expand institutional linkages and provide valuable educational opportunities.
CBSUA Vice Presidents Emerson L. Bergonio, Ramona S. Isabel Ramirez, Atty. Dominador F. Faurillo, and Cesar Armando Camba, along with college deans and the administrative council, engaged in discussions regarding potential collaborations in student and faculty exchange, research, and other areas.
This significant step marks a new chapter of collaborative growth and academic excellence for the Bicol Region’s higher education landscape.
