BAYBAY CITY, Leyte — Visayas State University (VSU) and Ghent University (UGhent) in Belgium have forged a seven-year student and staff exchange agreement, expanding international research, academic mobility, and training opportunities for students and faculty across both institutions.
Strengthening a Decade-Long Academic Alliance
The newly established agreement spans seven academic years, from 2027–2028 to 2033–2034. Executed between VSU and UGhent’s Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, the deal formalizes and deepens an academic collaboration that has continuously grown over the past decade.
VSU President Prose Ivy Yepes emphasized the transformative value of international engagement for the university community.
“This partnership with Ghent University gives our students and faculty more opportunities to learn beyond our campus, engage with researchers abroad, and bring those experiences home to VSU,” Yepes said. “After more than a decade of partnership, it is encouraging to see this relationship open new doors for our people and our work.”
Structured Student and Faculty Mobility
The agreement outlines clear parameters to support seamless academic exchange, tuition exemptions, and credit recognition:
Student Exchanges: Each institution may send up to two undergraduate or graduate students per academic year. VSU students across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels can pursue internships or thesis research at UGhent. Meanwhile, UGhent students in the Master of Science in Aquaculture program can undertake internships and master's research at VSU.
Faculty Development: Up to two professors from each university can participate in faculty exchanges annually to conduct research, lead specialized training, and share teaching methodologies.
Financial & Academic Integration: Exchange participants are fully exempt from host tuition and academic fees. Courses and research plans will be jointly coordinated by academic advisers, ensuring earned credits align directly with degree requirements at home universities.
Targeting Key Scientific and Agricultural Fields
The collaboration focuses heavily on agriculture, aquatic sciences, and natural resources—core research domains for both universities. Joint activities will pair UGhent’s Master of Science in Aquaculture program with VSU’s Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs.
The announcement comes as VSU cements its reputation as a leading higher education institution, ranking in the 301–400 bracket of the 2026 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. Ghent University stands as Belgium's second-largest university, hosting 50,000 students and 9,000 staff members.
