The group of Dr. Muneharu Esaka, HU's Dean of the Graduate School of Biosphere Science, is coming to the University on December 9-10, 2011 to formally sign the Memorandum of Agreement. Together with him are: Dr. Teruo Maeda, Vice Dean for International Affairs; Ms. Hisae Murakami, Senior Administrative Assistant; and Dr. Lawrence M. Liao, member of the Graduate School of Biosphere Science.

After the 15-day stint at the University of Hohenheim (UH) in Germany for a scientific exchange meeting with some key officials of UH's Center for Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, VSU President, revealed what transpired during the meeting.

A big crowd beaming with enthusiasm and excitement once again gathered on December 1, 2011 at the main entrances of VSU's lower and upper campuses to witness the ceremonial switching on of Christmas lights installed on the trees along the VSU mall. The event simply signals that advent season is already on the air. This yearly undertaking at VSU started in 2008 during the presidency of Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo and is being carried out every first day of December.

The Graduate School of Biosphere Science of the Hiroshima University (HU) in Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan and the College of Agriculture of the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines strengthened their partnership with the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Academic and Educational Exchange between the two universities on December 9, 2011 at the Training Hall of PhilRootcrops.

The Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Program (ViCARP) conducted on November 15-18, 2011 a training on Basic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Farmers' Information and Technology Services – Information System (FITS-IS) among the personnel of the newly established TechnoGabay Centers. The training was held at the Audio Visual Room of the Office of the Vice President for Research and Extension. The training aimed at inculcating knowledge on the basics in information and communication technology among the FITS-IS.

The Visayas State University, being the representative for Eastern Visayas in the Council of Leaders of the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), was invited to send a representative to the training on "Human Rights Defenders' (HRDs) as Community Monitors and Documenters: A Training-Workshop in Public Journalism." The training was held at Ciudad Christhia Resort, Barangay Ampid, San Mateo, Rizal on November 22-25, 2011.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has recently accorded to VSU's Q-Seedling Project the Second Runner Up Award in the 2010 Best Higher Education Research Program (Regional Level). The award was received on November 18, 2011 by Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, VSU President, together with the research team members: Dr. Rotacio S. Gravoso, Dr. Arturo E. Pasa and Ms. Maria Anabelle D. Gerona during the Eastern Visayas Summit on Research, Development and Extension in Higher Education Institutions at the Leyte Normal University. The award carries with it a plaque of recognition and a P100,000 cash prize.

The Q-seedling Project, also known as "Enhancing Tree Seedling Supply via Economic and Policy Changes in Philippine Nursery Sector", began in late 2007 and ended in 2010. It drew support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in collaboration with the University of Queensland (UQ) and the Visayas State University (VSU).