Recognizing the mutual benefits of establishing stronger institutional linkages, the Philippine Normal University (PNU) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) have formally entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote academic collaboration and foster mutual understanding between the two universities.

The agreement was signed by PNU President Dr. Bert J. Tuga and UPLB Chancellor Dr. Jose V. Camacho Jr., representing their respective institutions. The partnership aims to establish a framework for cooperation in key academic areas and research initiatives that contribute to the country’s educational advancement.

Under the MOU, PNU and UPLB agreed to undertake various collaborative activities, including the exchange of faculty, researchers, and students; the conduct of joint research and extension projects; the organization of lectures, symposia, and capacity-building programs; and the sharing of academic information and materials. Both universities also expressed their openness to explore other forms of academic cooperation founded on equality, reciprocity, and shared educational goals.

The MOU highlights the universities’ shared vision of enhancing academic excellence and innovation through inter-institutional collaboration while maintaining institutional autonomy and adherence to existing laws and policies. It will remain in effect for three years, subject to renewal upon review and mutual agreement.

Present during the ceremonial signing were Dr. Denmark L. Yonson, PNU Vice President for Student Success and Stakeholders Services; Dr. Antriman V. Orleans, Dean of the PNU College of Advanced Studies; Dr. Chryslie Margus N. Piñol, Dean of the UPLB College of Arts and Sciences; and Dr. Jenielyn T. Padrones, Director of the UPLB Office for Institutional Development in Higher Education.

Also in attendance were representatives from Caraga State University (CarSU) and Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU), whose presidents likewise formalized their respective partnerships with UPLB during the same occasion. The simultaneous MOUs signify a collective commitment among state universities to strengthen academic collaboration and expand institutional linkages across the country.

In conjunction with the event, PNU officials attended a lecture co-organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). The lecture featured the talk of Prof. Xiaozhou Xu, President of the Communication University of Zhejiang, who discussed entrepreneurship education. The session offered valuable insights into innovative approaches to entrepreneurship and higher education.

The partnership between PNU and UPLB underscores their shared commitment to advancing academic cooperation, fostering innovation, and reinforcing their roles as leading institutions in education and research in the Philippines.