#GoingGlobal: VSU builds partnerships with universities in Malaysia and South Korea for animal science research

The Visayas State University (VSU) continues to strengthen its international research network after formalizing new academic and research collaborations with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Chungbuk National University (CBNU) of South Korea.

The partnerships were sealed through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding and Agreements during a series of research visits and the Symposium on Animal Feed and Production held from October 27 to 31, 2025, at the VSU Main Campus.

The event brought together researchers, faculty members, and graduate students from the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS) of UPM and the Laboratory of Animal Genomics of CBNU. The symposium served as a vibrant platform for academic exchange, showcasing around 20 scientific papers and 10 posters, most of which featured studies on the utilization of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) as sustainable animal feed.

The event gathered researchers, faculty members, and graduate students from the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS) of UPM and the Laboratory of Animal Genomics of CBNU. Around 20 scientific papers and 10 posters were presented, many focusing on the use of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) as an alternative feed source for livestock.

Protect Phil Warty Project Partners with CBNU

Dr. Harvie P. Portugaliza and Dr. Kwan-Suk Kim sign the Memorandum of Agreement, witnessed by Asst. Prof. Jorge Michael D. Dominguez of CBNU and Dr. Manuel D. Gacutan, Jr., to strengthen genetic conservation research on Philippine endemic pig species.

A highlight of the CBNU visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between VSU’s Protect Phil Warty Project and CBNU’s Laboratory of Animal Genomics on October 28, 2025, at the Smart Classroom.

The MOU was signed by Dr. Harvie P. Portugaliza (Project Leader) and Dr. Cyrill John P. Godinez (Study Leader), together with Prof. Dr. Kwan-Suk Kim and Asst. Prof. Jorge Michael D. Dominguez of CBNU. This agreement opens a research partnership focused on the distribution and genetic makeup of Philippine warty pigs in Leyte and Biliran.

Under this setup, VSU researchers will handle fieldwork and sample collection, while CBNU will take charge of genome-based laboratory analyses. The results will help describe the population structure and genetic diversity of native wild pigs. This information will be vital for designing conservation strategies for these species.

The link between VSU and CBNU started through Dr. Godinez and Asst. Prof. Dominguez, both involved in studies on the Philippine Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR). Their ongoing exchanges made it possible to bring CBNU’s expertise in animal genomics to VSU’s conservation work.

Following the signing, Dr. Kim, Dr. Hanboreum Lee (Adjunct Professor at Gyeongbuk Provincial College and CEO of Aging Lab), and Asst. Prof. Dominguez served as resource speakers during the symposium. They discussed genetic applications in animal breeding, the revival of native Korean pigs, and genomic comparisons among Philippine cattle populations.

On October 27, Asst. Prof. Dominguez also led a lecture-workshop on bioinformatics, where VSU faculty, students, and researchers learned about phylogenetic analysis tools and their use in agricultural biotechnology. The session helped introduce more advanced techniques for handling and interpreting genetic data in animal science research.

Expanding Work with Universiti Putra Malaysia

VSU President Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes, together with Dr. Manuel D. Gacutan Jr., Dr. Cyrill John P. Godinez, and partners from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), pose for a photo following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Under the VSU and UPM agreement, the two universities agreed to promote faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, academic meetings, and the sharing of publications and learning materials. The partnership will also support short-term training programs and research in agriculture, engineering, and other related disciplines.

UPM was represented by Prof. Dr. Anjas Asmara Samsudin, Director of ITAFoS, together with seven faculty members and five graduate students working on food safety, crop production, and animal science. 

The collaboration was first explored during the 4th UC Faculty Forum in December 2022, led by Dr. Hasliza Abu Hassim, Deputy Director of ITAFoS, and Dr. Gacutan., Head of the VSU-DAS.

Throughout the five-day visit, the foreign delegates toured VSU’s Insect Research Facility, animal production sites, and the laboratories of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (VSU-FVM), Department of Food Science and Technology (VSU-DFST), and the Advanced Research and Innovation Center (ARIC).

They also joined technical sessions with VSU faculty and researchers to discuss possible projects on sustainable livestock production, feed innovation, and conservation genomics, aligning with ongoing efforts to promote responsible and science-based animal agriculture.

VSU President Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes welcomed the visiting delegations, saying that the agreements represent another step in widening the university’s research network in animal science.

“These partnerships open practical opportunities for our faculty and students to work with experts abroad, apply modern research methods, and contribute to meaningful studies that matter to local and regional agriculture,” Dr. Yepes said.

This article is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

• Prev
• Next