UNO-R, Grow Forward JP renew student exchange partnership

BACOLOD CITY — The University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) and Grow Forward JP, Inc. renewed their partnership for a second year, strengthening opportunities for student exchange, cultural immersion, industry exposure, and academic collaboration between the Philippines and Japan.

The renewal was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the UNO-R President’s Office.

The agreement was signed by Rev. Fr. Joel Alve, OAR, university president, and Kiyota Watanabe, general manager of Grow Forward JP, Inc.

“Through these initiatives, our students are immersed in partner schools in Japan, where they learn, interact, and collaborate with Japanese students through academic activities and shared experiences,” Alve said.

Serving as witnesses were Rev. Fr. Leo Alaras, vice president for Academic Affairs and Research; Ana Bea Montenegro, Grow assistant manager II; Harry Magluyan, UNO-R Integrated School principal; and Dr. Yasmin Pascual-Dormido, LPT, director for Internationalization.

According to Alaras, “From classrooms to communities, and from Negros to Japan, UNO-R continues to create global learning opportunities that allow our students to experience the world, build friendships across cultures, and become more globally minded and future-ready.”

The partnership provides UNO-R Senior High School students with opportunities to participate in student exchanges, cultural immersion activities, educational and industry tours, and collaborative academic activities with Japanese students.

Participants are immersed in partner schools in Japan, where they interact and collaborate with Japanese students while gaining exposure to Japanese culture, heritage sites, and industries related to their academic and professional interests.

“The partnership has already created meaningful experiences for our students,” Pascual-Dormido said, citing the participation of 18 UNO-R Integrated School Senior High School students in a student and cultural exchange program in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, from Nov. 5 to 11, 2025.

She added that the program goes beyond classroom learning by providing students with opportunities to experience different cultures, engage with their Japanese counterparts, and gain firsthand exposure to educational and professional environments in Japan.

The renewed partnership comes as UNO-R prepares another batch of students for international exposure.

On Aug. 24, 21 UNO-R Senior High School students and their parents attended an orientation conducted by Grow Forward JP, Inc. in preparation for the students’ upcoming weeklong student exchange, industry exposure, and cultural immersion program in Japan in November.

“Through the continued collaboration, UNO-R and Grow Forward JP seek to provide students with meaningful international experiences that complement their academic learning and help develop their cultural awareness, global competencies, and readiness for an increasingly interconnected world,” Alve said. (UNO-R)