VSU, Thai agribusiness giant advance student training through industry-based internships and research

Since the signing of their Memorandum of Agreement on October 24, 2023, VSU has deployed 36 Animal Science students and 18 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students to CPF’s modern facilities in Luzon and the Visayas. These internships provide intensive  and hands-on exposure to livestock management and feed production to complement classroom learning with direct industry practice. 

CPF also opens employment opportunities for VSU graduates and extends the partnership beyond training into career placement.

Support for students is also visible in academic recognition. During VSU’s 2025 commencement exercises, CPF awarded cash incentives of ₱10,000 each to seven BS in Agriculture (BSA) major in Animal Science graduates and three continuing Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students.

Representatives of CPF visited the university on August 15, 2025, to personally hand over the awards in the presence of VSU Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Dr. Rotacio S. Gravoso and Vice President for Student Affairs and Services (VPSAS) Dr. Aleli A. Villocino. 

The visit included a meeting with VSU officials to align programs with industry expectations, a first-of-its-kind event where an agribusiness partner engaged directly with the academic sector.

The exchange continued when the VSU-Department of Animal Science (VSU-DAS) visited CPF’s Tarlac Feedmill on August 29, 2025. 

The delegation, composed of Project Leader and DAS Head Dr. Manuel D. Gacutan, Jr., faculty member Mr. Roy C. Limpangog, and Project Technical Assistant Ms. Retchil B. Aragon, was toured around CPF’s feed production and quality assurance facilities. 

CPF highlighted its biosecurity systems that have kept its farms free from African Swine Fever, while the VSU team presented its research on a smart mobile app and device for detecting feed adulterants. CPF expressed interest in exploring the study for possible research cooperation.

The VSU-CPF partnership forms part of the university’s continuing efforts to integrate industry expertise into academic training. VSU has been advancing related initiatives, such as developing climate-smart agriculture technologies, strengthening its livestock research programs, among others. 

Through internships, research linkages, and scholarships, the partnership gives VSU students practical skills and industry connections while contributing to capacity-building in the country’s livestock sector.

This article is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and; SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals.