By Keziah G. Huelar

CPU Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Irving Domingo L. Rio, ZUIT President, Dr. Yao Xiyuan and Filipino  Chinese Youth Culture Promotion Inc. Co-founder, Mr. Xu Bin together with the universities’ officials, faculty and staff.

Strengthening global ties in research—Central Philippine University and Zhengzhou University of Industrial Technology are partnering together to pioneer the first Filipino-Chinese international research collaboration in the Region.

The international research partnership was established through a Memorandum of Agreement signed by CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles; ZUIT President, Dr. Yao Xiyuan; and Filipino Chinese Youth Culture Promotion Inc. co-founder, Mr. Xu Bin on October 30, 2018 at ZUIT, China.

In the said MOA, both universities agreed to conduct research studies on four phenomenon of interests, namely: “A Comparative Study of Eco-Tourism Education at Central Philippine University and Zhengzhou University of Industrial Technology”; “Street Food Culture in Zhengzhou City, China and Iloilo City, Philippines: A Comparative Study”; “Healing Practices Using Popular Herbal Plants in China and Philippines: A Comparative Study”; and “Pre-Hospital Duty Preparations of Nursing Students at Central Philippine University and Zhengzhou University of Industrial Technology: A Comparative Study.”

The CPU faculty delegation from the College of Nursing, the College of Hospitality and Management, and the Life Science Department are headed by Dr. Irving Domingo L. Rio, Vice President for Academic Affairs as research mentor. Previously, Dr. Rio has met with some of the Chinese counterparts for three days in order to reach a compromise pertaining to the methodology without affecting the integrity of the research.

CPU Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Irving Domingo L. Rio gave a lecture to graduate students on “Autonomous Status in Philippine Educational System” at Henan University in Henan, China.

The study, “A Comparative Study of Eco-Tourism Education at Central Philippine University and Zhengzhou University of Industrial Technology,” is headed by Prof. Ismael A. Almajar, Jr. together with Prof. Ely S. Lazaro. Their ZUIT counterparts include Prof. Gao Zhaoming, Director of the Tourism Management Department, School of Management; Prof. Wu Ke, Research Secretary of the School of Management; Prof. Zou Lei, ZUIT Tourism Management Department and Prof. Sun Xiaomei, Head of the Tourism Training Center.

“Street Food Culture in Zhengzhou City, China and Iloilo City, Philippines: A Comparative Study” is under the direction of Prof. Myrna T. Luceno and Prof. Armando S. Hisuan. Their partners at ZUIT are Associates Prof. Ma Jing, Director of Economics Teacher and Research Section; Prof. Shi Kaiyan, Deputy Director of the International Trade Teaching and Research Section; Prof. Miao Nana, a lecturer in international economics and trade; and Prof. Zhou Jie.

“Healing Practices Using Popular Herbal Plants in China and Philippines: A Comparative Study” is led by Dr. Stella G. Fernandez together with Dr. Nicolas G. Guanzon with ZUIT counterparts,  Prof. Li Ke, Director of Biopharmaceuticals Research Office; Prof. Zai Guangyu; Prof. Li Meng; and Prof. Zai Guangyu, a profesor in Organic Chemistry.

The fourth study entitled “Pre-Hospital Duty Preparations of Nursing Students at Central Philippine University and Zhengzhou University of Industrial Technology: A Comparative Study” is spearheaded by Prof. Nelida L. Lamasan with members Prof. Melba C. Sale and Prof. Marites L. Robleza. ZUIT partner-researchers include Prof. He Qunli, Deputy Dean of ZUIT Medical School; Dr. Zhao Xinyong; Prof. Wang Yan, Assoicate Dean of ZUIT Medical School; and Prof.  Si Xuyan, Director of Clinical Basic Research Office.

CPU Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Irving Domingo L. Rio observing a laboratory class in Xinxiang University. CPU hope to further strengthen its educational and cultural ties with the said university.

The CPU faculty have already administered the jointly constructed questionnaires to the Chinese respondents and the same questionnaires will be administered by the ZUIT faculty when they visit CPU during their winter vacation.

Both universities also agreed to pursue the publication and presentation of their research in an international research journal and conference. The research collaboration commenced on November 1, 2018 and shall be completed by May 31, 2019.

Furthermore, in line with the said partnership, on October 27-November 10, 2018, a research group composed of seven faculty members of CPU together with Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Irving Domingo L. Rio, presented their studies in two Chinese universities.

CPU faculty also gave lectures to the different colleges at ZUIT:

Prof. Melba Sales from the College of Nursing: Core Competency in Nursing Education
Prof. Nelida L. Lamasa from the College of Nursing: Nursing Education in the Philippines
Prof. Armando S. Hisuan from the College of Hospitality Management: Hospitality Management at CPU
Prof. Ely S. Lazaro and Ismael A. Almajar, Jr. from the College of Hospitality Management: Eco-Tourism Management and Tourism Programs

Dr. Stella G. Fernandez Acting Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences: Philippine Biodiversity Status
Prof. Nicolas G. Guanzon from the College of Arts and Science: Research of BS Biology Program of CPU

On the other hand, Dr. Rio gave a lecture to graduate students on “Autonomous Status in Philippine Educational System” at Henan University in Henan, China.

According to Dr. Rio, the research collaboration with ZUIT will open more partnerships for international research and exchanges: “ZUIT faculty researchers will visit CPU on February 2019 to conduct the comparative study. They will be using the same data gathering instrument that the CPU researchers used in ZUIT. This is just the start; we expect more exchange programs and faculty exchanges in the coming years.”

Dr. Rio also highlights that CPU aims to be at the forefront of research in the region. He further explains that the university is currently pushing for more research partnerships and exchanges with various foreign universities: “Internationalization is being vigorously pursued under the administration of Dr. Robles. We are maximizing our efforts to conduct more faculty and student research partnership and exchanges. This will help us establish CPU as a pioneer in international research collaboration in the region.”