In its proactive efforts toward global research excellence, the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) formalized a landmark Memorandum of Agreement with Universitas Potensi Utama (UPU) on February 14, 2026 at Bali, Indonesia, inaugurating a dynamic Matching Grant Research Collaboration that elevates the Philippines’ scholarly presence within the ASEAN academic community. The accord, signed by UNP President Dr. Erwin F. Cadorna and UPU Rector Prof. Dr. Rika Rosnelly, S.Kom., M.Kom. represented by Dr. Edy Victor, Research Director of UPU, reflects a shared institutional resolve to advance innovation, reciprocity, and measurable global impact.
At the forefront of the initiative was Dr. Edelyn A. Cadorna, Director of the University Research and Development Office (URDO), whose strategic groundwork and sustained coordination paved the way for the partnership’s fruition. As the director of UNP’s research engagement framework, she spearheaded the technical deliberations, harmonized institutional requirements, and ensured alignment of both universities’ research priorities, compliance protocols, and publication targets. Her stewardship underscores UNP’s systematic approach to international collaboration—one rooted in governance, quality assurance, and long-term sustainability.
At the heart of the agreement is a principled model of “matching” grounded not in monetary exchange, but in parity of commitment. Each university mobilizes its own institutional resources—research time, laboratories, data access, administrative infrastructure, and academic expertise—to sustain two flagship collaborative projects. This structure demonstrates a modern research diplomacy framework where enduring partnerships are built on intellectual equity and shared accountability rather than direct financial transfers.
The collaboration launches two integrated research initiatives led by principal investigators from both institutions, with multidisciplinary teams serving as co-researchers from Indonesia and the Philippines. From conceptualization and design to data collection, analysis, dissemination, and publication, the partnership mandates full-spectrum cooperation. Among the pioneering studies are a machine learning–driven investigation into stunting prediction among toddlers in underdeveloped Indonesian communities and an artificial intelligence–based model for predicting employee retention and organizational culture—projects that embody the convergence of public health, data science, and strategic management.
The Agreement establishes a rigorous milestone framework within a one-year implementation period, culminating in high-impact scholarly outputs. Each project is expected to produce at least one article in SCOPUS- or Web of Science–indexed journals and to secure presentation in internationally indexed conferences, reinforcing a culture of research productivity calibrated to global standards. Clear authorship guidelines and intellectual property provisions further safeguard equity, transparency, and academic integrity.
For UNP, the partnership signals a defining chapter in its expanding global research portfolio. Through this agreement, the University affirms its capability in physical, personnel, and institutional resources to engage in high-level research collaboration. With President Cadorna’s visionary leadership and Dr. Edelyn A. Cadorna’s operational direction, UNP strengthens its role not merely as a participant in international scholarship, but as a co-creator of knowledge that transcends borders.
More than a ceremonial signing, the MOA represents a deliberate alignment of vision between Medan and Vigan—between Indonesian innovation and Filipino scholarship—advancing research that addresses contemporary challenges while amplifying the Philippine voice within the global academic arena.
