Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao pledged UP Mindanao’s active participation and willingness to enter into a memorandum of understanding with heads of higher education institutions (HEI) in a meeting convened by the Mindanao-Japan Science and Technology Platform (MJ-STeP), an NGO, and hosted by the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) on March 14, 2025.
Chancellor Murao was joined by ADDU president Fr. Karel San Juan SJ, University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) president Dr. Bonifacio Gabales, and University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) president Dr. Ambrosio Cultura in the meeting convened by MJ-STeP president, former Japanese ambassador Yoshiaki Miwa.
Mr. Miwa proposed a long-term collaboration between MJ-STeP and the Mindanao universities for research and development for an improved quality of life in Mindanao. Among MJ-STeP’s contribution to the collaboration would be post-graduate scholarships to Japan, of which some of the HEIs have benefited, including UP Mindanao. Upon achieving a concrete example of R&D collaboration, he would link the HEIs to Japanese universities, thereby generating synergy, and funding from investors.
In response, the HEI representatives presented their promising R&D programs for the prospective participation of other HEIs. UP Mindanao and ADDU, for example, had biomass research in common, among other research areas. UP Mindanao’s Prof. Larry Digal represented the Agribusiness Value Chain Lab being ready for collaboration. Dr. Melvin Pasaporte also presented UP Mindanao’s upcoming Knowledge Innovation Science and Technology (KIST) Park for the prospective participation of other HEIs.
The representatives also suggested ways forward, such as identifying focal persons for each of the HEIs, and a selected location or area where the HEIs could work together. The convenors agreed to enter into a memorandum of understanding to bind their collaboration.
The top photo shows the lead convenors at the March 14, 2025, meeting (seated, left-right) USTP Pres. Ambrosio Cultura II, UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao, MJ-STeP Pres. Yoshiaki Miwa, USeP Pres. Bonifacio Gabales Jr., and ADDU Pres. Karel San Juan SJ. The UP Mindanao delegation included (standing, second, third, and fourth from left) KIST Park convenor Dr. Melvin Pasaporte, former UP Mindanao chancellor Prof. Larry Digal, and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs OIC Assoc. Prof. Maria Stella Salazar, alongside their counterparts.
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UP Mindanao’s Dr. Melvin Pasaporte presents the UP Mindanao KIST Park proposal.
Earlier in the week, on March 12, 2025, former ambassador Yoshiaki Miwa was in UP Mindanao to know more of the ongoing research projects on behalf of the Mindanao-Japan Science and Technology Platform (MJ-STeP), an NGO of which Mr. Miwa serves as president.
Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs OIC Assoc. Prof. Ma. Stella Salazar presented the range of research undertakings which support Mindanao development. Prof. Cleto Nanola Jr., dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, offered his fisheries research and the School of Management’s Prof. Pedro Alviola IV presented their similarly promising agribusiness and nutrition research.
Prof. Jhoanna Lynn Cruz, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, represented the Mindanao Studies Program, a holistic and integrative component of S&T undertakings. Human Resource Chief Lynda Buenaobra represented UP Mindanao’s Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM).
The photo above shows (left-right) HR Chief Lynda Buenaobra, Dean Cleto Nanola Jr., VCAA-OIC Ma. Stella Salazar, Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao, MJ-STeP Pres. Yoshiaki Miwa, Dean Jhoanna Lynn Cruz, and Prof. Pedro Alviola IV, at the March 12, 2025, meeting.
Mr. Yoshiaki Miwa in conversation with the UP Mindanao officials after the meeting.