Ms. Angelica Valdez, a student from Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) โ Calabanga Campus, was among the recipients of the prestigious Best Case Award at the South Intensive Program (SIP) 2025, held on February 21, 2025 at Isabela State University (ISU).
Valdez and her team, comprised of students from various institutions, were recognized for their exceptional analysis and development of innovative solutions for a real-world case study. Their work focused on collaborating with Courage Integrated Farm, an agri-tourism site located in Brgy. Bansing, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, owned and managed by Mr. Andrew and Mrs. Neddy Bacud.
The team addressed key challenges faced by the farm, including declining tourist numbers, limited overnight accommodations, brand identity development, and optimizing land use. Notably, the team also included Michael De Turck of VIVES University of Applied Sciences (VIVES-UAS), who is currently an intern student at CBSUA-Sipocot Campus, College of Engineering and Industrial Technology.
The South Intensive Program 2025, conducted from February 10 to 21, was jointly hosted by Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) and Isabela State University (ISU). Saint Maryโs University (SMU) served as a partner institution, hosting the prototyping phase for the case studies. The program facilitated collaboration among students and faculty from local and international universities to tackle practical challenges and develop impactful solutions.
Other participating institutions included Bicol University (BU), Camarines Norte State College (CNSC), and the four campuses of CBSUA (Pili, Calabanga, Pasacao, and Sipocot). The program also welcomed international participation from Belgium, with students from Howest University of Applied Sciences and VIVES University of Applied Sciences.
The SIP provided a valuable platform for Filipino and Belgian students to exchange knowledge and collaborate on solutions for their assigned case studies. Valdezโs significant contributions, alongside her teammates, earned them the Best Case Award, recognizing their strong analytical skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
The success of the South Intensive Program 2025 underscores the importance of international academic collaboration in addressing local and global challenges. It fosters cross-cultural exchange and equips students with practical, real-world problem-solving experiences. | ๐๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐๐ด. ๐ก๐บ๐ณ๐ข ๐๐ช๐ญ๐ข
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