Manila/Kaohsiung, February 3, 2026 — A delegation from the College of Life Sciences (KMULF) at Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU), led by Dean Professor Sodio C.N. Hsu, visited the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the Philippines on February 3, 2026. The two institutions held the “UST-KMU Research Collaboration Discussion” event, exploring substantial cooperation potential in life sciences, chemistry, biomedical sciences, and biotechnology. The visit placed special emphasis on future academic partnerships between KMU’s College of Life Sciences and UST’s Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences (RCNAS), with active discussions toward establishing a dual master's degree program. This initiative aims to offer students cross-border learning and research opportunities, further strengthening Taiwan-Philippines higher education exchanges.

The event commenced at 11:00 AM in the SOLE Room of UST’s Main Building, featuring opening remarks by UST College of Science Dean Professor Rey Donne S. Papa and KMU College of Life Sciences Dean Professor Sodio C.N. Hsu. UST participants included Assistant Dean Prof. Ma. Claudette A. Agnes, Chair of the Department of Chemistry Assoc. Professor Alan Rodelle Salcedo, PhD, Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences Asst. Professor Reuel Bennett, Dr. rer. nat., as well as Asst. Professor Hao Wei Hsu-Yap and Instructor Katherine Yasmin Garcia.

The KMU delegation presented key highlights from its departments: the Department of Medicinal and Applied Chemistry (led by Chair Professor Wei-Yu Lin), the Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology (Chair Professor Pei-Feng Liu), the Department of Biotechnology (Chair Professor Wei-Ting Liao), and the Department of Fragrance and Cosmetic Science (Asst. Professor Pamela Berilyn So, with contributions from relevant faculty). Presentations detailed each department’s research strengths, faculty expertise, and signature projects. The delegation also introduced KMU’s Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) and International Internship Pilot Program (IIPP) short-term internship opportunities, actively inviting UST students to participate in exchanges and internships to boost international academic interactions.

UST representatives from the Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences shared their research advancements and state-of-the-art facilities. An open forum followed, allowing in-depth discussions on potential collaborations, including joint research projects, student exchanges, co-authored publications, and degree articulation pathways. The session concluded with the presentation of souvenirs and certificates, followed by closing remarks from UST Assistant Dean Prof. Ma. Claudette A. Agnes. After lunch, the delegation toured UST’s Central Laboratory (6th and 7th floors) and the RCNAS, gaining firsthand insight into UST’s advanced research infrastructure in natural and applied sciences, laying a solid foundation for future joint endeavors.

This visit marks a new phase in the partnership between KMU’s College of Life Sciences, UST’s College of Science, and RCNAS. Both sides agreed that RCNAS’s interdisciplinary research platform, combined with KMU’s strengths in medicinal chemistry, biomedical sciences, and biotechnology, can drive high-impact collaborative projects. Discussions on the feasibility of a dual master's degree program were particularly promising, enabling students to earn dual degrees from both institutions upon completion, thereby enhancing their global competitiveness. This direction aligns with worldwide trends in higher education internationalization and injects fresh momentum into Taiwan-Philippines academic ties.

The KMU College of Life Sciences noted that the overall Philippines visit (covering UST, University of the Philippines Los Baños [UPLB], and University of the Philippines Open University [UPOU]) yielded fruitful outcomes. Moving forward, the college plans to advance concrete initiatives, including signing deeper agreements, launching joint research teams, and implementing student exchange mechanisms. UST expressed strong enthusiasm, viewing the engagement as a vital bridge for scientific and educational collaboration between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Dean Professor Sodio C.N. Hsu of KMU’s College of Life Sciences emphasized: “This visit goes beyond ceremonial exchanges; it represents the starting point of a long-term partnership. We look forward to deepening cooperation with UST’s RCNAS in research and talent cultivation—especially through a dual master's degree program—so that more young scholars can benefit from transnational learning resources and jointly advance innovation and development in the life sciences.”

The event received high praise from both institutions and is expected to generate additional joint projects and academic exchanges, setting a model for Taiwan-Philippines higher education cooperation.