TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 18 -- Visayas State University (VSU) in Leyte and Ghent University (UGhent) in Belgium have forged a seven-year student and staff exchange agreement that will provide students and faculty members from both institutions opportunities for study, research, training and professional development.

The agreement, covering academic years 2027-2028 to 2033-2034, was established between VSU and the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering of Ghent University, strengthening a partnership that has spanned more than a decade.

VSU President Prose Ivy Yepes said in a statement Tuesday the agreement would give members of the university community greater opportunities to gain international academic and research experience.

"This partnersh...