The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao and the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP) Research and Training Center entered into a training partnership to deliver professional development programs with a contract-signing ceremony held at the UP Mindanao Gaisano Room on March 9, 2026.
Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao and ECCP Research and Training Center Executive Director Mr. Florian Gottein signed the contracts of agency on behalf of their respective organizations.
The signing ceremony was coordinated by UP Mindanao’s College Business Manager (CBM) Ms. Jo-An A. Garcia, and ECCP Research Center Davao City head, Ms. Rie Realingo.
Chancellor Murao and Executive Director Gottein delivered commitment statements at the ceremony.
“We commit to providing the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines with our faculty experts to serve the ECCP members and contribute to their improvement and the improvement of commerce and industry,” said Chancellor Murao.
“We are aware that UP Mindanao has been a member of ECCP since 2023,” said Director Gottein. “We are glad to have formalized this relationship, and if there is anything you need from ECCP, please let us know,” he said.
In UP Mindanao, OECS and CBM Garcia will jointly lead the implementation of the training program. OECS Director Usares provided a brief overview of the partnership agreement in his welcome remarks.
In the top photo, the contract of agency between UP Mindanao and the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines Research and Training Center (ECCP RTC) is presented by (seated, left-right) UP Mindanao Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Maria Stella Salazar, Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao, ECCP RTC Executive Director Florian Gottein, and ECCP RTC Davao Head Rie Realingo, witnessed by (standing, left-right) UP Mindanao’s College Business Manager Jo-An A. Garcia, Extension and Community Service Director Maynard Usares, Dean Aurelia Luz Gomez of the School of Management, Dean Jhoanna Lynn Cruz of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Research Director Marilou Montiflor.
The ECCP Research and Training Center conducts professional development programs, such as leadership and management training, workplace safety programs, business communication workshops, and specialized technical or industry-focused courses. These trainings may be delivered as public seminars or customized programs for partner institutions and organizations
The ECCP Research Center in Davao City serves as the Chamber’s regional hub for Mindanao, supporting research training and engagement activities that connect the European business community with local stakeholders, industry partners, and academic institutions. The Center facilitates capability-building programs, policy dialogues, and business networking initiatives aimed at strengthening European-Philippine economic operations and regional development.
For UP Mindanao, the partnership allows UP Mindanao faculty experts to deliver professional training programs that engage industry experts, strengthen industry-academe collaboration, heighten UP Mindanao’s position as a provider of professional executive training, expand international engagement with the European business community, and generate additional institutional revenue that will directly support UP Mindanao’s academic, research, and community development programs.
The partnership aligns with the University of the Philippines’ strategic plan, particularly UP Mindanao’s vision for a Regenerative campus and Amuma framework, by strengthening industry-academe collaboration and enabling knowledge exchange, initiatives to promote sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven development.
The above photo shows the UP Mindanao team upon arrival of the ECCP delegation, comprised of (left-right) UPMin’s CBM Jo-An Garcia, ECCP Davao Head Rie Rialingo, UPMin’s VCAA Maria Stella Salazar, ECCP RTC Executive Director Florian Gottein, and OECS Director Maynard Usares.
[Text by Rene Estremera/Photo courtesy of OECS and MA Gatela]