Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit
The University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila) welcomed nursing students from Gunma University as part of the International Study Program during a courtesy meeting held on March 16, 2026, at the UP College of Nursing (UPCN) Library Conference Room. The program provides the students with the opportunity to experience community, clinical, and public health practice in the Philippines.
The visiting delegation included three nursing students, accompanied by supervising faculty member Dr. Takatoshi Makino and visiting professor Dr. Rie Matsui. UP Manila representatives present during the meeting included Dr. Johanna Patricia Cañal, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, and Asst. Prof. Kenny-lynn Baccay, ISP Coordinator for Gunma University.
The International Study Program (ISP) enables visiting students to observe the Philippine healthcare system through a combination of classroom discussions, hospital exposure, and community immersion. During their stay, the students will participate in activities at the College of Nursing, the Philippine General Hospital, and the Manila Health Department. In the clinical observations at the Philippine General Hospital, students will focus on pediatric and maternal health services. These include visits to pediatric wards and postpartum units where they can observe patient care and health education for mothers and newborns.
The program also includes community exposure in Cavite, where the students observed how UP Manila students in the Community Health Development Program (CHDP) work directly with communities and local health officials. The activity allowed them to see how health education, nutrition guidance, and preventive care are implemented in community settings.
During the meeting, Vice Chancellor Cañal asked the students about their experiences during their visit to the country, and the students had the opportunity to ask questions. The discussions highlighted the importance of understanding health issues faced by children and families in different contexts. The visiting students shared observations about nutrition challenges in some communities, particularly how limited financial resources can affect children’s diets and access to healthy food.
Dr. Matsui also shared her observations from the community exposure in Cavite, where she witnessed how different health professionals work together in addressing community health needs, while Dr. Takatoshi Makino emphasized the importance of continuing the academic partnership between the two institutions through student and faculty exchanges.
Gunma University, a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Research and Training on Interprofessional Education, has been a long-standing partner of the UPCN. Over the years, both institutions have worked together on initiatives such as student mobility programs, faculty exchanges, joint trainings and seminars, and collaborative research. The International Study Program forms part of the continuing collaboration between UP Manila and Gunma University. Over the years, the two institutions have partnered in student mobility, faculty exchange, joint seminars and training, and collaborative research.
Through the ISP, UP Manila continues to expand international partnerships and provide opportunities for students and faculty to learn from diverse healthcare systems and community health practices.
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