Bicol University (BU) and Central Luzon State University (CSLU), the Philippines and the University of Liverpool, UK established a partnership in 2017 under the UK-PH Now TNE links programme. 

It addresses research and training in the discipline of sustainable food systems, a strategic common interest to Bicol, CSLU and Liverpool. The importance of food security in providing affordable nutrition through sustainable agricultural practices and resilient supply chains is a global challenge. 

Underpinned by a comprehensive postgraduate training programme, it supports the development of high calibre researchers in the Philippines, and fosters international collaboration in inter-disciplinary research on food security.

There are two programmes: Masters degree in Sustainable Food Systems is offered as a dual award from BU and UoL for Philippine students. The first year of the Programme is taught at Bicol University, students then transfer to Liverpool for their second year.  A common research project links the two years of study.

Liverpool and CSLU offer a dual PhD award. Student supervision is provided by supervisory teams from both universities with research investigations conducted in both the Philippines and the UK. Scholarships to Philippine students are provided through the Philippine government.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice

This TNE programme underpins a new project, “Transformative Academic Practice for Higher Education in the Philippines (TAPHEP),” led by the University of the Philippines, Los Banos (UPLB)

The project specifically aims to:

• build capacities in academic practice among Philippine HEIs through and certification of selected teaching professionals;
• continually improve the quality of Philippine Higher Education delivery through efforts toward wider dissemination; and
• apply technical and instructional technologies and techniques which will provide the establishment of the community of academic practice among Philippine HEIs.

The project is in two phases. In the first phase, Philippine HEI staff (from a number of public and private universities across the Philippines) will enrol on the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP). In the second phase, these staff, with guidance and support from University of Liverpool staff, will develop training modules to cascade lessons learned to other teachers in the Philippines. Philippine staff will be recruited into this programme in two batches.

The Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice (PG CAP) is accredited by Advance HE and enables graduates to simultaneously achieve a University of Liverpool Postgraduate Certificate award and Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). The PGCAP is delivered fully online for international scalability through the University’s partnership with Kaplan Open Learning. The PGCAP is aligned to the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, and global perspectives of higher education are embedded in the curriculum. Students are actively encouraged co-create content by contributing their own global perspectives of higher education. In 2023 students will be able to progress from the Liverpool Online PGCAP to the Liverpool Online PG Diploma and MA Academic Practice if they choose to. 

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Examples of projects in the dual award masters and PhD programmes:

Valorization of by-products of the Windowpane oyster,  Placuna placenta
The shells of this oyster (capiz shells) have been used for many years as a glass substitute because they are translucent and durable. For example, they are used as decorative lampshades or as raw materials for glues and varnishes. The meat of the oyster, although edible, is rarely consumed as a food. The aim of this project is to evaluate the meat of the oyster not only as a food but whether it contains other high value constituents that are of use as pharmaceuticals. 

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