Chancellor Murao and Prof. del Mundo at the DOST-STRAND-N ceremony

UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao (in the second row, second from the right) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the DOST – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) for scholarships under the Science and Technology Regional Alliance of Universities for National Development (STRAND), specifically crafted for scholars of the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER). 

Called by the acronym STRAND-N, the scholarships aim to make higher education more accessible to S&T professionals in the regions, foster professional advancement, and contribute to progress and development throughout the country.

UPMin is an awarded NICER for R&D in Mindanao, and UPMin's full-time MS Food Science students are qualified to apply for the DOST STRAND-N. They are trained in the scientific analysis of tropical food and vegetable processing to solve Mindanao's food industry concerns in waste reduction, food safety, food security, development of new products, and the like. 

Assoc. Prof. Dann Marie del Mundo (behind Chancellor Murao), the chairperson of the UPMin Department of Food Science and Chemistry and MS Food Science coordinator, witnessed the signing. 

The MS Food Science program addresses the Sustainable Development Goals of Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Responsible Consumption and Production, and others.