On 4 July 2026, Nagoya University President Naoshi Sugiyama delivered the commencement address at the 54th Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) after being invited as the official guest speaker. His invitation represented not only a distinguished honor for Nagoya University, but also an important milestone reflecting the long-standing partnership between Nagoya University and UPLB that has been continuously strengthened through the activities of the Asian Satellite Campuses Institute (ASCI).

  Credit: Media and Communication Office, University of the Philippines Los Baños

For more than half a century, Nagoya University and UPLB have collaborated in agriculture, environmental studies, public policy, and many other academic fields. Building upon this history, ASCI established the Nagoya University Asian Satellite Campus at UPLB in 2015, creating a permanent platform for doctoral education and research collaboration in the Philippines. As a result, 12 students have already graduated with Ph D and now working universities, research institutes, and government agencies, including 3 UPLB faculty members and researchers.

Over the past decade, ASCI has contributed not only to graduate education but also to the development of a broad academic network linking Nagoya University with higher education institutions throughout the Philippines. Faculty members, researchers, government officials, and alumni have become part of a growing community that continues to generate new educational programs, collaborative research, and institutional partnerships.

President Sugiyama's invitation should therefore be understood within this broader context. Rather than representing an isolated ceremonial event, it symbolizes the mutual trust cultivated through many years of sustained academic cooperation. UPLB Chancellor Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr. highlighted this long history and recognized ASCI's contribution to strengthening institutional ties through doctoral education and human resource development.

In his commencement address, President Sugiyama reflected on the enduring partnership between Nagoya University and UPLB and emphasized that universities must not only create knowledge but also develop people capable of contributing to society. Referring to the UP–NU Roadmap 2030, he expressed confidence that cooperation would continue to expand through new educational initiatives, joint research, and broader international collaboration.

He shared three messages with the graduates: do what only human beings can do; do not be afraid to fail; and never stop learning. Drawing upon his own experience as a cosmologist, he encouraged them to maintain intellectual curiosity and to use their education to address global challenges.

The significance of the visit extended beyond the commencement ceremony. During the same visit, senior leaders from CHED, the University of the Philippines System, UPLB, and Nagoya University met to advance implementation of the UP–NU Roadmap 2030, including doctoral education, faculty development, the Dual PhD Program, and the NATURE+ collaborative research initiative.

  Credit: Media and Communication Office, University of the Philippines Los Baños

Equally significant was the participation of Nagoya University alumni in the Philippines, many of whom have maintained close relationships with ASCI since its establishment. Their continuing engagement illustrates ASCI's role in creating lasting professional networks that connect universities, government agencies, industry, and society.

  Credit: Media and Communication Office, University of the Philippines Los Baños

Today, ASCI serves not only as a platform for doctoral education but also as a catalyst for long-term institutional partnerships throughout Asia under the scheme of Asia Collaborative Development Department (ACDD) of Nagoya University Global Multi-Campus Institute where ASCI now belongs to. President Sugiyama's participation in the UPLB commencement ceremony symbolizes the confidence built through years of shared achievements and reflects ACDD's mission of connecting knowledge, developing future leaders, and fostering sustainable international partnerships across Asia.

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