Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit
The University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila) and Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS), one of Nepal’s leading medical institutions, explored potential partnerships in academic exchange, research, and community health development during a meeting held on October 6, 2025, at the UP Manila Board Room, 8/F Philippine General Hospital.
KUSMS was represented by Dean Manoj Humagain, who met with Dr. Vivien Fe F. Fadrilan-Camacho, Director of the UP Manila Office of International and Local Linkages (OIL), along with representatives from UP Manila’s colleges—Dr. Christine Susean S. Sagpao of the College of Medicine, Dr. Cristina Laureta of the College of Dentistry, and Dr. Laurence Lloyd B. Parial of the College of Nursing.
In the meeting, Dean Humagain introduced KUSMS and presented it’s strong track record on medical and allied health science programs. He also underscored the university’s shared values with UP Manila in delivering affordable, community-based healthcare education. “Our mission is also the same: quality healthcare service should be affordable and applicable to all. That is the motto of our hospital services, as well as providing quality education for leadership,” he said.
Dr. Fadrilan-Camacho highlighted that UP Manila’s community-oriented programs align closely with KUSMS’s outreach and service-learning initiatives, particularly through its Community Health Development Program (CHDP).
“We have a lot of things in common, and what hit me the most would be the community-based programs that you have, because that’s also one of the strengths of our development programs or CHDP, where we partner with local government units in the country. We facilitate or provide technical assistance and community health development. The majority of the colleges deploy their students to have community exposure and immersion so that they will be able to apply whatever they have learned from the classroom.” she said.
Representatives from UP Manila’s academic units also expressed enthusiasm about potential collaborations. Dr. Laureta shared interest in student and faculty exchange programs, joint postgraduate training, and visiting professorships. Similarly, Dr. Sagpao emphasized the university’s existing international linkages with Japan, Korea, and the U.S. for clinical clerkship programs, and welcomed opportunities to expand such partnerships to Nepal. Dr. Parial discussed UP Manila’s ongoing collaborations with Japan, Hong Kong, and the U.S. and expressed interest in developing joint research projects in community health and women’s health with KUSMS.
This partnership would mark UP Manila’s first official linkage with an institution in Nepal, expanding its network of over 100 international academic partners, Dr. Fadrilan-Camacho noted.
Dean Humagain expressed optimism about establishing a meaningful partnership between the two universities. “This is how we are connected, and let’s be open to these collaborations. Wherever possible, we can start with small initiatives and materialize them into something bigger. Merely signing a piece of paper and keeping it in a drawer is meaningless. What truly matters is building healthy, heart-to-heart collaborations—those that last, are meaningful, and can be practically applied,” he said.
The meeting concluded with both parties expressing eagerness in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize the partnership.
Read More:
