Taiwan’s KMU explores BukSU’s Botanical Garden and Herbarium, Bukidnon Studies Center; BukSU, KMU to institute int’l partnership

Bukidnon State University (BukSU) hosted a delegation from Taiwan’s Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) on July 13, 2026, as a start of a cross-border partnership aimed at exploring Mindanao’s rich biodiversity and indigenous heritage.

The international benchmarking and exploratory visit, organized by BukSU’s International Affairs and Linkages Unit (IALU), brought a pioneering batch of senior undergraduate biology students and academic advisors to the province. The delegation’s travel was funded by the Taiwanese Ministry of Education’s study abroad initiative, which selected Mindanao for its unique and diverse ecological landscape.

The KMU delegation’s visit to the Philippines was facilitated and coordinated by Ms. Mescel S. Acola and Mr. Brian Sabanal, Filipino graduate students currently studying at KMU, who accompanied and guided seven Taiwanese undergraduates from an entomology class throughout their academic and cultural engagements in the country.

A focus of the dialogue was connecting BukSU’s community extension projects with Taiwan’s University Social Responsibility (USR) framework. BukSU officials shared the institutional practices, particularly its autonomous extension projects that support Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Northern Mindanao through collaborations with cultural guardians.

“We want our students to not only experience regional biodiversity but also to connect deeply with local communities,” Sabanal said. “Mindanao’s cultural and ecological diversity offers an unmatched learning environment for our pioneering batch.”

The exchange served as a platform for sharing knowledge, best practices, and exploring future collaborations in the fields of biology, environmental science, and biodiversity conservation.

BukSU provided the delegates with the opportunity to explore the university’s botanical collections and promote cultural and heritage understanding.

Dr. Lesley C. Lubos, Director of the Botanical Gardens and Herbarium (BGH), introduced the herbarium preservation techniques, taxonomic documentation, and ongoing plant conservation initiatives of the BGH while showcasing BukSU’s initiatives to preserve the rich flora of Bukidnon and the Philippines.

Delegates were immersed in the culture and heritage tour at the Bukidnon Studies Center (BSC) led by BSC Director Ms. Loreta Sol Dinlayan, which allowed the students to learn the material culture, do soil painting, and experience playing a collection of the province’s instruments.

The immersion left a strong impression on the visiting Taiwanese students.

“What impressed me most was the university’s green spaces,” student Vincent said. “Inside the greenhouse, everything is so lush and green. I actually grow some moss at home, so seeing how beautifully the moss grows here was fantastic. I absolutely loved the overall vibe of the place.”

He also praised the container of mama (betel nut), adding, “The metal box—I have never seen this kind of metal box in Taiwan. It has a very unique, crescent-like shape that makes it incredibly special.”

The province’s history and botanical resources drew interest from the group.

“I really enjoyed the botanical garden,” student Eric said. “There are so many medicinal plants there, and it made me realize how much more we can learn about plants and mosses in the future. (At the BSC) Looking at all these fascinating weapons and artworks, the weapons definitely impressed me the most because they carry so much cultural meaning and history. Thank you.”

Other students highlighted the creative and educational value of local conservation and art.

“The garden featured a lot of plants that I don’t see in Taiwan. It was amazing to hear the doctor explain how what used to be a landfill was successfully transformed into such a beautiful garden,” student Katie said. “But what interested me the most was seeing soil painting for the very first time. I thought it was incredibly creative to use natural elements to make art—it was just really cool.”

The exchange also highlighted cultural connections and inspired future academic goals for the visitors.

“I noticed that the culture of the local Indigenous people is quite similar to the traditional Indigenous cultures we have in Taiwan,” student Cindy said. “I also had the chance to play the Bangkakawan (percussion instrument), which was a lot of fun! Learning that it’s used to help fishermen catch fish made the experience both interesting and meaningful.”

Cindy also commended the university’s research facilities as a potential blueprint for her home institution. “Aside from that, I was fascinated by the herbarium. The way they collect and preserve plant species is incredibly organized, making it a powerful tool for learning and research.”

While the initial visit served as an exploratory platform to pilot student mobility and field research, both universities expressed strong enthusiasm for formalizing the relationship. Long-term plans are already underway to institute an annual, credit-earning summer internship program. (BukSU – Information Unit)