Prof. Jhoanna Lynn B. Cruz of UP Mindanao's Department of Humanities was appointed UP Artist 1 by the UP Board of Regents on 9 June 2022. The appointment under the UP Arts Productivity System serves as recognition and a reward for artistic productivity among UP faculty and staff and to encourage further artistic productivity. Prof. Cruz's appointment as UP Artist 1 (Batch 2019-2021) was awarded for her accomplishments in 2014-2018, in which she exhibited steady productivity in creative work and scholarly publications. During that period she represented the Philippines in international writers' festivals, such as the Melbourne Writers Festival, Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, and the Tokyo International Literary Festival, to name a few. She also served as president of the Davao Writers Guild and as regional coordinator of the National Committee on Literary Arts for six years. Her column “Lugar Lang” ran for two years in Mindanao Times, a Davao City-based newspaper. 

In more recent years, Prof. Cruz has realized higher levels of productivity. She published "Abi Náko, Or So I Thought" (UP Press, 2020) a memoir chronicling her experiences as a woman rebuilding her life in Mindanao, and edited "Tingle Anthology of Pinay Lesbian Writing" (Anvil, 2021). Her works have been published in various local and international anthologies and journals. Notably, her Palanca award-winning essay "Sapay Koma" has become part of the literary canon in secondary and tertiary education. She continues to serve the Mindanawon literary community through the Davao Writers Guild.

The MS in Human Movement Science will be offered in UP Mindanao beginning Academic Year 2022-2023, in September 2022. In preparation for this, the Department of Human Kinetics held the "Forum on the Off-Campus Offering of UP Diliman's Master of Science in Human Movement Science in UP Mindanao" on 09 June 2022.

Ms. Zenia Sanchez, in her presentation, expressed the MSHMS's goals "to equip its graduate with critical inquiry and research skills" and "contribute to nation-building through the promotion of human movement/physical activity-related pursuits."

Prof. Jonathan Cagas, the graduate studies coordinator of UP Diliman's College of Human Kinetics, answered questions regarding admissions. About 30 people who expressed interest in the degree program attended the forum.

UP Mindanao is working towards a proposed College of Human Kinetics. It presently offers the Diploma in Exercise and Sports Science (DESS) and the new Associate in Arts in Sports Studies (AASS). Undergoing final preparations are the Bachelor of Sports Science and the MSHMS.

The MSHMS in AY 2022-23 will be open for graduates of BS Education major in Physical Education, Bachelor of Physical Education, and DESS. As a UP Diliman off-campus extension program, pioneer graduates of MSHMS in UP Mindanao will receive a UP Diliman diploma.

[Clarification: UP Diliman is offering the MSHMS. UP Mindanao will only host it. The teaching faculty will be from the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics, augmented by a UP Mindanao faculty member]

Prof. Isidoro Malaque III, Chair of the Department of Architecture, University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao, received a Special Citation Award of the Australian Alumni Excellence Awards from the Australian Embassy in the Philippines, which was handed over by Australian Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Steven J. Robinson in ceremonies held on 2 June 2022 in Pasay City, Metro Manila.

The Special Citation Award was presented to Prof. Malaque, a Ph.D. in Architecture (2017) of The University of Adelaide, “for his exceptional achievement and positive contribution to his profession, industry, the community, and his country through his leadership and innovation.” 

“Prof. Malaque contributed new knowledge in the built environment and led in the re-opening of the post-graduate program in Urban and Regional Planning in the University of the Philippines Mindanao," said Ambassador Robinson. 

UP Mindanao’s Diploma and Master of Arts degrees in Urban and Regional Planning caters to local government planners making comprehensive land use plans and professional planners in private practice.    

The Australian Embassy in the Philippines organizes the Australia Alumni Excellence Awards to celebrate exceptional achievements of Australia-educated Filipinos under the umbrella organization Australia Global Alumni in the Philippines. A number of UP Mindanao academic and research personnel belong to the Australia Global Alumni in the Philippines. UP Mindanao has working partnerships with the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research and Australian universities.