KMU's Namasia USR Project Launches Philippines Office at UPOU, Transferring University Social Responsibility Expertise to Empower Philippine Higher Education and Sustainable Development
Los Baños, Laguna / Kaohsiung, February 6, 2026
A delegation from Kaohsiung Medical University’s (KMU) College of Life Sciences (KMULF), led by Dean Professor Sodio C.N. Hsu (who also serves as the project leader for the Namasia iUSR initiative), attended the official inauguration of the KMU Namasia USR Philippines Office at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) on February 6, 2026. This milestone marks the formal international extension of KMU’s long-standing University Social Responsibility (USR) efforts in Taiwan’s indigenous Namasia District, channeling accumulated expertise through the International University Social Responsibility (iUSR) framework to the Philippine university system. The initiative aims to foster sustainable education, community empowerment, and cross-border social responsibility practices, setting a new model for global higher education impact.
The event took place from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM on the 2nd Floor of UPOU’s World Class Multimedia Production Building, hosted by Remsce Pasahol. UPOU participants included Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Assoc. Prof. Aurora V. Lacaste, PhD, and Assistant to the Chancellor for VINTA Asst. Prof. Lorena Jean Saludadez. The KMU delegation featured key leaders from the College of Life Sciences, including Professor Wei-Yu Lin (Chair, Department of Medicinal and Applied Chemistry), Professor Pei-Feng Liu (Chair, Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology), Professor Wei-Ting Liao (Chair, Department of Biotechnology), and Professor Yong-Chao Su (Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology; co-leader of the Namasia iUSR project).
Since its inception under the Ministry of Education’s University Social Responsibility program, KMU’s Namasia USR project has been deeply rooted in Taiwan’s indigenous Namasia District for nearly a decade (building on over 25 years of prior engagement). Starting from medical services, it has expanded into regional revitalization, ecological conservation, health promotion, talent development, and community co-learning for sustainable progress. Recent years have seen the project extend internationally via the iUSR mechanism, targeting New Southbound Policy partner countries—including the Philippines—while integrating with UPOU’s strengths in open education and community development.
The establishment of this dedicated office in the Philippines represents a pivotal step in transferring KMU’s proven USR model from remote indigenous communities—such as health promotion, environmental education, cultural preservation, and youth empowerment—to the Philippine university system. It is expected to support UPOU and other Philippine institutions in enhancing their USR practices, particularly in indigenous knowledge systems, sustainable development, and inclusive education.
This collaboration not only symbolizes a new chapter in the enduring KMU-UPOU partnership but also responds to global calls for universities to generate broader societal impact. Through the joint iUSR office, both institutions will advance transnational USR projects, share best practices, facilitate student volunteer exchanges, and implement community intervention initiatives, enabling the Philippine university system to play a greater role in social responsibility within the ASEAN region.
Dean Professor Sodio C.N. Hsu stated: “The internationalization of the Namasia USR project marks a crucial transformation for KMU—from deep local engagement to global influence. We are delighted to bring our accumulated USR expertise to the Philippines, partnering with UPOU to create innovative models of sustainable education. University social responsibility should transcend national boundaries and become a shared force for enduring, cross-border sustainability.”
UPOU representatives expressed strong support, viewing the collaboration as an enhancement of the open university’s global perspective on social inclusion and sustainable development. The event received unanimous praise from both sides, with expectations of spawning additional joint USR initiatives, knowledge transfers, and community impact projects, injecting fresh vitality into Taiwan-Philippines higher education social responsibility cooperation.