West Visayas State University (WVSU) and Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand formally established an international academic partnership through the virtual ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on July 2, strengthening collaboration in agricultural communication, research, and higher education.
The five-year agreement aims to enhance opportunities in higher education, strengthen scientific and technological development, and promote cross-border cooperation and cultural understanding between the two institutions. It also opens opportunities for faculty and student exchanges, joint research and teaching programs, academic conferences, short-term academic programs, and the exchange of academic resources and expertise.
The partnership brings together WVSU’s College of Communication’s Development Communication Division and Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen’s Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, united by a shared commitment to advancing communication-driven approaches to sustainable agriculture and rural development in Southeast Asia.
In her overview of the partnership, WVSU Development Communication Division Chair Joesyl Marie Aranas emphasized that the collaboration goes beyond a formal agreement and is anchored on a common goal of connecting agricultural knowledge with the communities it serves.
To launch the partnership, both institutions plan to conduct a virtual research symposium where faculty members and students will present their research, identify shared interests, and explore future collaborative projects.
Aranas also noted that the partnership seeks to combine agricultural expertise with development communication to make research more accessible and useful for farmers and rural communities through knowledge-sharing initiatives and communication campaigns promoting food security and sustainable farming.
“Science discovers, but communication delivers. With this collaboration, we will ensure that the knowledge generated in our classrooms and laboratories directly enriches the fields and lives of the people we serve,” she said.
In his message of support, WVSU President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz described the agreement as a significant step in advancing the University’s internationalization efforts.
“This piece of document that we are about to sign is a manifestation with promising partnerships set to inspire learning and expected to create opportunities beyond borders,” Villaruz said.
He added that the partnership creates new opportunities for faculty and student mobility, collaborative research, capacity-building activities, and the meaningful exchange of knowledge, expertise, and culture.
“We look forward to turning this agreement into meaningful programs that advance education and research to benefit our communities,” he said.
Also delivering messages during the ceremony were WVSU College of Communication Dean Dr. Rona Dhel Alingasa and Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen Associate Dean for Research and Academic Services for Internationalization Dr. Chanate Malumpong. The program was hosted by Louis Placido Lachica, faculty member and extension coordinator of the WVSU Development Communication Division, who also delivered the closing remarks.
The collaboration reflects WVSU’s continuing commitment to internationalization and to building partnerships that advance research, education, and sustainable development across borders.
