The Office of UST in Santa Rosa City (USTaR) under the Office of the Rector commenced talks to explore opportunities for collaboration and sharing of best practices with the Collegio de San Juan de Letran in the City of Calamba (Letran Calamba) on February 21, 2025 at the UST-Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center (UST-TTCIC). The UStaR officials led by Prof. Philipina A. Marcelo, Ph.D., hosted the Letran Calamba Administrators led by Rector and President Rev. Fr. Napoleon M. Encarnacion, O.P., and the Vice President for Academics and Research Dr. Floricon V. Encabo.
The gathering was meant to explore and create opportunities with expected outcomes that can be mutually beneficial to the two Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). In addition, meaningful pathways were highlighted to distinguish features of Dominican education in the Province of Laguna and in the CALABARZON region.
During the dialogue, the UST-Letran Calamba group identified areas that can be readily pursued. Some of these are current research projects of common interest related to food security and sustainable development as well as similar community development activities that can be linked together for greater impact in the Province of Laguna. Many of these priority projects and activities are aligned with Pope Francis’ Laudato Sí. As Catholic HEIs, both UST and Letran Calamba integrate the operationalization of the said encyclical in their academic programs, research projects, community development activities, and their overall operation. Along this line, one of the long-term goals is to cultivate the culture of collaboration between the two HEIs, share state-of-the-art research facilities, and match faculty strengths to pursue interdisciplinary research works with lasting impact in the region and in the country.
Among the attendees from Letran Calamba were Dr. Ma. Xenia Z. Bitera, Senior Director of the Research Department; Dr. Carmel N. Hemedez, Dean of the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management; Dr. Richard John Brian D.L. Manzano, Dean of the School of Education, Arts, and Sciences; Dr. Julieta N. Madjus, Dean of the School of Business, Management, and Accounting; Ms. Janice A. Ilao, Assistant Director for the External Relations Department of the Linkages and Alumni Office; and Engr. Christopher V. Gonzales, Program Chair of Computer Engineering at the School of Engineering and Architecture.
Wrapping up the dialogue between the two institutions, the UStaR officials gave the Letran Calamba officials a tour of the UST-TTCIC where Prof. Marcelo, Dr. Prado and the Project Management Assistant, Engr. Shikara Poblete-Jose, M.Sc., described the general plans for each area and the opportunities for joint pursuits between the different Academic Units and Research Groups from the two HEIs. They described the flow of research-innovation-entrepreneurship activities between UST-WiTBIRIn and UST-TTCIC.
