The Governor of the Province of Leyte, Hon. Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, in his message as guest speaker during the 59th VSU Collegiate Commencement Exercises on April 11, 2012 at the VSU Gymnatorium, expressed his confidence in VSU's capability in producing good leaders among its graduates. The vibrant Governor said that "We need leaders and that's what makes you different from the rest of the graduates in this region because the school has taught you to become future leaders." He emphasized that VSU is a breeding ground for good leaders.

Dr. Rotacio Gravoso, Professor of the Department of Development Communication (DDC), has been in Australia from February 14 t0 March 21, 2012 as a recipient of the John Dillon Memorial Fellowship on Research Management. Sponsored by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the fellowship afforded Dr. Gravoso and other ten fellows from the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Papua New Guinea the opportunity to participate in workshops on communicating science at Melbourne; leadership development at Melbourne Business School, the top education provider in Australia; and research management at the ACIAR Headquarters in Canberra.