Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Central Mindanao University (CMU) continues to uphold its commitment to global academic excellence and collaboration through its European Academic and Research Engagement Trip, conducted from October 7–19, 2025. The mission served as a vital component of CMU’s internationalization and globalization initiatives, in line with Republic Act 7722, which mandates the standardization of higher education through international academic cooperation.
Strengthening Global Partnerships
The CMU delegation, strategically composed of Dr. Alan P. Dargantes, Vice President for Research, Development and Extension (VP for RDE), and Dr. Alma B. Mohagan, Supervisor of the University Museum, was selected to target high-level collaboration across research and museum-based studies.
The team visited key academic and research institutions across the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, and Poland, focusing on expanding CMU’s networks in biodiversity, agriculture, environmental science, and museum studies. Each host institution provided significant support, underscoring its commitment to a fruitful, reciprocal partnership.
Key Engagements and Highlights
In the Czech Republic, the delegation met with experts from the National Museum, facilitated by Dr. Dominik Vondracek and Dr. Lukas Sekerka, Charles University, by Dr. Petr Sipek and Dr. Vondracek, and the Czech University of Life Sciences (CULS by Dr. Francisco C. Herrador). These engagements included tours of biological collections, discussions on ex situ conservation, and participation in the MYBR Conference. The meetings resulted in concrete plans for:
- Joint research on biodiversity and coleoptera collections
- Faculty and student exchanges under the ERASMUS+ Program
- Co-authorship on previously gathered biodiversity data
- Internship and training opportunities for CMU students
- Partnerships across programs and colleges like: Veterinary Medicine, Forestry, CEBREM NPRDC, GeoMin, Physics, Math, Chemistry, and Anthropology. Collaborations on faculty and student exchange, graduate studies, visiting professor/scientist, co-organizing international conferences, joint research and community engagement, and ICUN listing of taxa group, among others.
In Slovenia, the delegation collaborated with IB ZRC SAZU of the Slovenia Academy of Sciences, participating in research presentations and museum benchmarking activities. Discussions with Dr. Matjaz Gregoric and Dean Jani focused on joint conferences, faculty mobility, and research fellowships for CMU graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
In Croatia, CMU solidified its partnership with Zagreb University through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The engagement centered on research linkages in biodiversity, agriculture, and the natural sciences, as well as shared interests in museum-based education and academic program development. This was facilitated by Dr. Josip Skejo.
In Poland, at the Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences (ISEA PAS), CMU delegates conducted seminars and collaborative meetings on biodiversity and molecular biology. The visit included tours of laboratories and museum facilities, providing valuable insights into European practices in digital collection management and biodiversity conservation. This was facilitated by Mr. Marcin Wiorek.
CMU is leveraging these new alliances to enrich its curriculum and programs by exploring initiatives such as possible co-curriculum development on cave ecology and a Lecturer or faculty exchange on invertebrate zoology.
The delegation gained exposure to best European practices in museum digitization, interdisciplinary research collaboration, and academic networking, insights which CMU plans to adapt locally to enhance its own University Museum and research dissemination systems.
According to Dr. Mohagan, the immediate priority for sustaining this momentum involves actively working to formalize all partnerships through finalized MoUs and joint project proposals.
The university also plans to leverage funding opportunities from the EU and ERASMUS+ programs and ensure sustained research collaboration via co-supervised theses and shared publications. This comprehensive, action-oriented approach to internationalization is designed to establish CMU as a significant player in the global academic community.
The recently concluded European Academic and Research Engagement Trip stands as a milestone in CMU’s ongoing pursuit of global collaboration and academic excellence. The university extends its heartfelt appreciation to the partner institutions for their hospitality, generosity, and shared commitment to advancing education and research worldwide. [Information from Dr. Alma B. Mohagan, University Museum Supervisor & Professor]
