USM, ZPPSU Expand Academic Ties through Research Collaboration
May 20, 2026
The University of Southern Mindanao (USM) Research, Development, and Extension (RDE) Unit shared its research and innovation frameworks with the Commission on Higher Education-Innovation Blueprint Project (CHED-IBP) team during a benchmarking visit on May 20, 2026, at the USM Sky Room.
The CHED-IBP is a core component of CHED’s A.C.H.I.E.V.E. agenda. Led by Project Leader Dr. Rec E. Eguia, the initiative aims to harmonize research and innovation to solve pressing issues like graduate job mismatches and industry skills gaps. As part of its data-gathering phase, the project seeks to document the frameworks and processes adhered to by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country.
Vice President for RDE Dr. Debbie Marie B. Verzosa presented RDE’s initiatives and existing policies as the benchmarking activity commenced. An open forum followed to spark conversations on the processes of research and innovation funding, as well as the challenges encountered. Participating in this session were Extension Services Office (ESO) Director Dr. Glyn B. Gabano-Magbanua, Philippine Industrial Crops Research Institute (PICRI) Director Dr. Tamie C. Solpot, and various university research and extension staff.
To gather more in-depth information, the CHED-IBP team facilitated a Key Informant Interview (KII) focusing on the partnership challenges and relationship dynamics between USM and its partner agencies: Catalist, Upgrade Innolab, and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) Cotabato.
“Napakalaki po ng role ng USM sa kasagsagan ng paglaganap ng Pestalotiopsis na isang sakit ng rubber dahil sa mga research nila about sa mga best practices, na-manage po namin ng maayos ang sakit na ito,” said Agriculture Officer Mr. Ruel Villanueva of OPAg Cotabato.
Following the KII session, the team visited USM’s innovation centers and laboratories, including the Food Processing and Innovation Center (FPIC), the High Value Crops Processing Center (HVCPC), and the Cacao Post-Harvest and Tablea Processing Center. The benchmarking visit concluded at the USM Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer, and Business Development Office (USM-IPTTBDO), where Office Head Dr. Jalaloden B. Marohom highlighted the role of innovation in USM’s excellence in agriculture and other fields.
“Protecting and commercializing our research ensures that university-born technologies actually reach our local farmers and industries, transforming academic breakthroughs into real-world economic growth,” Dr. Marohom emphasized.
As the CHED-IBP nears completion, the project team is expected to release a CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) that will serve as a standardized innovation roadmap for HEIs.
The benchmarking visit underscored USM’s active participation in projects that prioritize collaborative research, technology transfer, and sustainable development. Through this agenda, the university continues to solidify its role as a key driver of national innovation, ensuring that its academic outputs directly empower communities and shape the future of Philippine higher education.
