Strengthening Academic Ties: UP AIT and Partido State University Formalize Institutional Partnership
On May 5, 2026, the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), through the Asian Institute of Tourism (AIT), and Partido State University (ParSU), officially inked their commitment to academic excellence through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony at the UP AIT Seminar Room.
The ceremonial signing was led by UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II and ParSU University President Arnel B. Zarcedo. This partnership establishes a framework for institutional links aimed at fostering a culture of collaboration between the two universities.
First among these series of activities is โHIKOT: The PSU and UP AIT Sustainable Coastal Tourism Project,โ an extension project supported by the UP Diliman Extension Grant. The project aims to develop an action research framework for sustainable coastal tourism development that can be applied across different coastal communities. It addresses the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Life Below Water).
Under this three-year agreement, both universities have pledged to cooperate on the development of training programs for faculty and staff, the implementation of collaborative research projects, and the exchange of academic materials and information.
This partnership is particularly significant for the tourism sector, as it opens doors for shared technical expertise and innovative approaches to academic development in the Bicol region and beyond.


