Isabela State University (ISU) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Upskill Development Foundation, Wadhwani Foundation Philippines on September 9, 2025, marking the beginning of the program “Innovation Support for University Projects, Outcomes and Resources to Thriving Student Startups (ISUPORTSS).”
In her message during the ceremonial meeting, Dr. Marinel P. Dayawon (Dean, College of Education and Co-project implementer) stressed that the partnership creates meaningful opportunities for students to go beyond academic outputs and translate ideas into practical innovations.
Messages of support followed from Dr. Artemio A. Martin, Jr. (Cluster Executive Officer, Echague Campus), represented by the Dr. Helena B Florendo (Campus Director for Academic Affairs, Echague Campus).
Dr. Boyet L. Batang (University President) also emphasized that the MOU signals ISU’s mission to produce graduates who are not only academically excellent but also socially responsible innovators. He emphasized that the MOU directly supports his vision of transforming ISU into the SMARTEST University.
He noted that empowering students to become innovators and entrepreneurs is a concrete expression of this vision, as it makes ISU not only a center of learning but also a hub for solutions that address real societal needs. “When we empower our faculty and students to innovate, we bring our SMARTEST vision to life—making ISU future-ready while remaining deeply rooted in service to our people,” he said.
The partners’ perspectives also stood out during the program. Mr. Lucrecio Delgado, Jr., Regional Director for Southeast Asia of the Wadhwani Foundation, underscored their shared advocacy: “The youth are the drivers of future economies. By empowering them with entrepreneurial skills and a global outlook, we help them transform not just their own lives but their communities as well.”
Echoing this, Mr. Matt Ronnie T. Matias (Senior Consultant, Wadhwani Foundation Philippines), highlighted the global benefits of the training: “Through the Wadhwani Ignite Program, both ISU faculty and students will gain international certification and credit courses recognized by institutions worldwide. This is about equipping them with credentials that open global doors while addressing local needs.”
Mr. Christian Lloyd D. Taguba (Project Proponent) presented ISUPORTSS as the University’s parallel program. He explained how a pool of coaches will be trained, while students and coaches alike will undergo intensive mentoring and eventually receive international certification and credit courses from the Wadhwani Foundation, Inc., based in New York, USA.
“This program is about more than building businesses—it’s about creating inclusive opportunities for innovation, ensuring that women, indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities also thrive as innovators,” Taguba stressed.
Dr. Precila C. Delima (Vice President for Academic Affairs) then affirmed ISU’s commitment, assuring that innovation and entrepreneurship will continue to be embedded into ISU’s teaching, research, and extension thrusts.
The signing of the MOU became the highlight of the event, sealing a shared commitment to advance student startups and research commercialization.
Dr. Ferdinand Bulusan (University Director for Extension and Training Services and Co-project Implementer), described the initiative as “a cross-pollination between innovation, entrepreneurship, and the curriculum.” He emphasized that through this, ISU ensures its academic outputs become engines of real-world development.
Beyond the Event: Science, Technology, and Development
The signing of the MOU is a development strategy. It aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):SDG 4 (Quality Education): by embedding entrepreneurial skills into learning, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): by preparing students to be job creators and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): by accelerating research-to-market pathways.
With global certification, international recognition, and cross-sector collaboration, ISU’s partnership with the Wadhwani Foundation places its students and faculty on the world stage while ensuring their innovations remain rooted in local relevance.
Toward a Thriving Startup Ecosystem
With the combined leadership of both institutions, the University is poised to create a startup ecosystem in Northern Luzon. As the partners emphasized, the initiative is not only about producing entrepreneurs but about shaping globally competent innovators who create impact at home. For ISU, the initiative is a promise that every idea nurtured in its halls can grow into an innovation that changes lives.
