Architect's conception of the initial KIST Park building

The University of the Philippines Mindanao's (UPMin) Knowledge, Innovation, Science, and Technology (KIST) Park project is moving forward with the due diligence process to obtain anticipated funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) PRISTINE Project.

PRISTINE, or "Promoting Research and Innovation to Strengthen Transformation of Industries and Enterprises," is a proposed USD 400 million Philippine government loan from the ADB, with the DTI as the executing agency. The PRISTINE program aims to improve the national innovation ecosystem by establishing more applied research and development and innovation infrastructure in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

President Jimenez at the CARIM building complex

University President Angelo Jimenez led the ribbon-cutting to open the Kalimuhagan Knowledge Fair Exhibit during his recent visit to the new Center for the Advancement of Research in Mindanao (CARIM). The exhibit showcased the work of various researchers and research groups within the university with the theme "UPMin Research: Transforming Insights into Impacts." 

Research Director May Anne Mata, in her welcome remarks, said kalimuhagan is translated as "light" or "knowledge on how to use something." Therefore, "Let there be kalimuhagan," she declared.

President Jimenez, in his message, said, "The pioneering spirit is the engine behind the establishment of UP Mindanao. This spirit is hardwired into your UP Mindanao DNA. As the first university president from Mindanao, I have committed myself to supporting that vision of the university as a shining symbol for Mindanao."

UP announces new degree programs in Mindanao campus and more inclusive admissions policy nationwide

UP President Angelo Jimenez speaking to members of the news media in a press conference in UP Mindanao. UP MPRO Photo.

University of the Philippines (UP) President Angelo Jimenez announced in a conference on May 7 that several new degree programs would be hosted and offered by UP Mindanao, in line with the University’s strategic thrust to contribute more actively to the growth and development in the region. Jimenez also unveiled concrete plans to make UP admissions more inclusive for applicants from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, including several provinces of Mindanao.

“UP has a mandate of public service, so here in Mindanao, we hope to build local capacities and expertise in order to have the greatest impact on long-term development,” Jimenez told the local media at Lemito Hall at the UP Mindanao campus in Mintal, Davao City.

UP Mindanao will introduce programs in Doctor of Medicine beginning the Academic Year 2025-2026 in cooperation with the College of Medicine of UP Manila. UP Mindanao will become the first state university in Davao City to offer the MD program.

At the same time, the UP constituent university (CU) will also launch a program in Civil Engineering in cooperation with the UP Diliman Institute of Civil Engineering, an Associate in Entrepreneurship, and two new Master of Science offerings.

The Associate in Entrepreneurship will be under the CU’s School of Management and aimed at promoting a culture of innovation and supporting the local start-up ecosystem.

An MS in Quantitative Methods in Modeling will be instituted to help upskill graduates of BS Applied Mathematics and BS Computer Science to meet advanced industry requirements. UP Mindanao will also offer a new MS Biology program, with four specialty tracks adopted from the Institute of Biology in UP Diliman.

According to Rene Estremera, UP Mindanao Public Relations Officer, the launch of the programs was part of the UP Mindanao R2-5K agenda, or “The Road to 5,000 Students,” which aims to improve the campus's academic profile while increasing enrollment from the current 1,400 students to 5,000 by 2029.

Democratizing student admissions

This is also in line with a current UP System thrust to democratize student admissions. Jimenez spoke of encouraging more UP enrollment from public schools and the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas of Mindanao. Part of the strategy is to increase UP College Admissions Testing (UPCAT) centers to at least one per province by 2025. UP is also setting aside funds for a program to subsidize living and study expenses of UPCAT passers who could not afford them.

Jimenez emphasized his Manobo roots as UP President and his intention “to make a pivot to Mindanao.”

The UP President, the first one to be officially conferred the title at UP Mindanao, also answered questions alongside UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao on establishing a UP-Bangsamoro Development Institute and a Mindanao Sports Development and Training Institute on campus, on internally generating funds to support UPCAT passers belonging to marginalized sectors; on finding means to logistically support the new UP Mindanao offerings; and on current UP programs to promote mental health among its constituents.

Source: https://up.edu.ph/up-announces-new-degree-programs-in-mindanao-campus-and-more-inclusive-admissions-policy-nationwide/

MSU President Basari Mapupuno (seated, fourth from left) leads the BARMM SUC delegation at the UP-SUC Collaboration Program consultation. EVP Jose Fernando Alcantara (standing sixth from left), UP-SUC Collaboration Program head, and Chancellor Lyre Murao, TWG-BDI chair, attended.

 The UP-State Universities and Colleges (SUC) Collaboration Program, headed by EVP Jose Fernando Alcantara, held a Stakeholders Consultation with BARMM SUCs on May 8, 2024, in Davao City. This was held in coordination with the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Creation of the UP Bangsamoro Development Institute (BDI).

Mindanao State University (MSU) System President Basari Mapupuno led the BARMM delegation, which included SUC heads from Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato, Lanao Province, and the MSU constituent universities.

The UP-SUC Collaboration team presented its Strategic Pathways for collaboration and its "patikim" offers for the Mindanao SUCs/LUCs. These offers are the Balay Pagtinabangay (The House of Collaboration) for social enterprise, capability-building through the UP Resilience Institute, ICT capability-building, Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP) training, a national youth summit on the environment, "Pailaw" electrification, digital education technology, and e-library access.

Chancellor Lyre Murao, in her capacity as TWG-BDI chairperson, presented UP's "eight baskets" of offerings for the BARMM, namely, in food, health, education, the environment and ecology, information and communication technology (ICT), governance, economics, and maritime science. A ninth basket, culture and the arts, was conceived in subsequent consultations.

President Jimenez said, "I made it very clear that when we enter any place, it must be through a partnership. The local partner is at the center stage, and the university is just the backup."

The UP-SUC Collaboration Program and the TWG-BDI align with UP's strategic plans for collaboration with SUCs and assistance to the BARMM. They align with UPMin's goals for public impact and the Sustainable Development Goals of Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, among other goals.    

UP President Jimenez, Dr. Gracita Jacinto-Ali, and MSU President Mapupuno (sixth, seventh, and eighth from left, respectively) with heads of BARMM SUCs