CPAf hosts joint workshop of UPLB and Kyoto University

The College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf) hosted the joint workshop organized by the University of the Philippines Los Baños with Kyoto University which aimed to strengthen academic and research relations by facilitating discussions on real-world issues that require collaborative research last March 3, 2025.

Asst. Prof. Aileen Lapitan, CPAf Dean, opened the event by presenting some of the college’s activities and future engagement possibilities. She was followed by Prof. Jose V. Camacho, UPLB Chancellor, who expressed gratitude to Kyoto University, particularly the Graduate School of Economics, led by Dr. Shuji Hisano and Dr. Miya Koyabayashi, for their support and collaboration.

“It’s not just about a one-way partnership, but about facilitating a greater exchange of ideas and perspectives—intellectual discourse that will ultimately contribute to the development of our communities’ livelihoods and, in general, our humanity,” Prof. Camacho stated.

The workshop featured multiple parallel sessions, each chaired by faculty members from UPLB and Kyoto University. Topics of discussion varied from “Honing Entrepreneurial Resilience in Polycrisis Conditions” to “Food Citizenship Toward Food Systems Transformation.” Graduate students and academic faculty from Kyoto University joined UPLB professors and research and extension personnel to present their research perspectives under different themes during the workshop.

Prof. Shuji Hisano from Kyoto University concluded the event with two observations: (1) Social sciences and humanities are often undervalued at Kyoto University, which is primarily focused on science and technology, and (2) Participants in a recent roundtable emphasized that social sciences are crucial and should serve as the foundation for innovation.

“Although our main purpose today was to understand each other and deepen our friendship, all of the presentations and subsequent discussions were academically meaningful and contributive. In that regard, I can say with confidence that today’s workshop was very successful,” he added.

The event created opportunities for sharing knowledge to enhance individual academic journeys and explore future research exchanges and collaborations.