Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic, and Guimaras State University (GSU), formerly Guimaras State College, have been partners since 2018, when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote faculty and student exchange, joint research, and integrated learning programs. Since then, the partnership has grown into a regular cycle of reciprocal visits, lectures, fieldwork, and cultural exchange.
November 14, 2026 – MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A Czech university with nearly a decade of partnership in the Philippines is expanding its engagement — from the island province of Guimaras to Metro Manila — in a move seen as a boost for Filipino students, faculty, and research.
Mendel visits University of Makati
The momentum continued in Metro Manila on November 12, when the Rector and Vice Rector of Mendel University in Brno paid a courtesy visit to the University of Makati (UMAK).
The visit was arranged by Atty. Jewel Bulos, Vice President of UMAK, and initiated by Noubikko Ulanday, CEO of RPConnect, to explore possible future collaboration between Mendel University and UMAK.
No formal agreement was signed during the courtesy visit. The meeting served as an introductory dialogue on potential cooperation in academic exchange, joint research, faculty and student mobility, and internationalization.
For UMAK, the visit opens a potential new European partner at a time when the university is raising its international profile as host of the 2026 WURI International Research Conference (WIRC-26) on November 18–20.
For Mendel, it builds on a proven model in Guimaras — research that is grounded in real Philippine communities, not just in classrooms, Noubikko said.
As the collaboration continues — and as new conversations initially open with partners such as UMAK — the focus remains the same: research with purpose, exchange with mutual respect, and education that serves both Guimaras and the wider Philippines.
(from left to right) Jim Salonoy, Senior Relations Officer and Business Analyst of RPConnect; Atty. Jewel Bulos, VP – Administration, University of Makati; Noubikko Ulanday, CEO of RPConnect; Petr Kupec, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Sustainability of Mendel University in Brno; Martin Klimanek, Rector of Mendel University in Brno; Prof. Elyxzur C. Ramos, President of University of Makati.
A partnership that works both ways
In February 2026, a Mendel University delegation held an Academic and Research Collaborative Visit at GSU, with faculty and students from GSU’s College of Science and Technology participating.
In September 2026, the exchange went the other way. GSU Dean Dr. Rhea Joy D. Flora traveled to Mendel University in Brno for a research visit, while GSU President Dr. Lilian Diana B. Parreño also went to Brno for academic and research engagement.
During visits to Guimaras, Mendel faculty and students present their research, join lectures and workshops, conduct fieldwork with local communities, and take part in cultural exchange with GSU’s cultural groups and chorale.
Research areas in the collaboration include:
- Forestry and sustainable forest management
- Agroforestry and environmental science
- Tourism and ecotourism
- Engineering
- Social Sciences
- Food Safety and Food Security
- International development and sustainable communities
The Mendel delegation has historically been led by Doc. Ing. Petr Kupec, Vice Dean of Mendel University’s Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, who has helped organize student exchanges between the two universities since 2018.
About Guimaras State University
Guimaras State University is a public higher education institution in Buenavista, Guimaras, Philippines, committed to accessible, quality education, research, and community service.
About Mendel University in Brno
Mendel University in Brno is a public university in Brno, Czech Republic, with a tradition of excellence in teaching and research since 1919. It is named after J.G. Mendel, the founder of modern genetics.
About University of Makati
The University of Makati is a public university in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines, known for its strong programs in business, engineering, technology, and the arts, and for its growing international engagement.
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