Cebu Institute of Technology–University (CIT-U), a top Philippine university, has entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Taiwan’s National Chengchi University (NCCU), formalized during a signing ceremony at the Wildcats Innovation Laboratory. The event was hosted by StellarPH, marking a milestone moment for regional collaboration and entrepreneurial exchange.
The agreement underscores the three organizations’ commitment to academic cooperation, research collaboration, and cultural exchange, while also strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Philippines and Taiwan.
Expanding Opportunities for Students and Faculty
Through the MoU, CIT-U and NCCU outlined areas of collaboration including student and faculty mobility, joint research projects, academic credit recognition, and co-hosted lectures and conferences. These initiatives are further supported by StellarPH’s programs that empower students through entrepreneurship education, startup incubation, and real-world innovation experiences. Together, the partners are advancing a culture of excellence by equipping students to thrive in global and entrepreneurial arenas.
Showcasing Innovation at CIT-U
The event opened with welcome remarks from Ralph P. Laviste, Manager of Wildcat Innovation Labs at CIT-U, and Pjotr Steinmetz, Co-Founder of StellarPH, who emphasized the importance of international collaboration in shaping future-ready entrepreneurs. The program featured presentations on the Wildcat Innovation Hub, CIT-U’s dedicated space for startup ideation and student-led ventures, and DASIG, a student leadership and innovation movement energizing young leaders to build and collaborate on entrepreneurial initiatives.
Highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit, Jemar Jude Maranga, founder of CodeChum and GradeChum, shared his startup journey — a story of grit and purpose that embodies what the CIT-U, NCCU, and StellarPH partnership seeks to achieve. NCCU also presented its innovation and entrepreneurship programs, laying the foundation for stronger cross-border startup collaborations between Taiwan and the Philippines.
Shared Commitment to Excellence and Sustainability
The collaboration reinforces CIT-U’s vision of becoming a top university and a SDG University, committed to sustainable innovation and internationalization. By combining NCCU’s strengths in social sciences, business, and global relations with CIT-U’s expertise in engineering, technology, and applied sciences — and with StellarPH providing platforms for startup incubation — the partnership reflects a powerful synergy that bridges disciplines, industries, and cultures.
A Launchpad for the Future
An open forum and Q&A enriched the program, leading to the formal MoU signing between CIT-U and NCCU, with StellarPH as an enabling partner. The event demonstrated that when ecosystems come together, universities become launchpads of innovation, where students are not only learners but also builders and founders.
This partnership adds to CIT-U’s growing portfolio of global collaborations, reaffirming its role as a top Philippine university that continues to lead the future through academic excellence, entrepreneurship, and global engagement.