Visayas State University

What Visayas State University does

Visayas State University (VSU) is a Philippine public state university founded on September 27, 1924, headquartered on a 1,099-hectare main campus in Baybay City, Leyte. Designated as the CHED Zonal University for Eastern Visayas, VSU functions as the regional flagship institution for graduate education, applied research, and extension services, operating the main campus plus four satellite campuses in Alangalang, Ormoc, Villaba, and Isabel, and three liaison offices in Manila, Cebu, and Tacloban. Across 188 buildings and a workforce of 251-500 personnel, VSU delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs spanning agriculture, fisheries, engineering, education, and — with the 2026 launch of the VSU College of Medicine — health sciences.

The university runs nine specialized research centers covering root crops, aquaculture, climate change, disaster resilience, and food processing, which feed a portfolio of technology-transfer assets including the TechnoMart, BaRGO business platform, VSU Publishing House, the VSU Eco-Tourism Park, and a one-hectare coconut processing center equipped with a steam retort facility. On-site renewable energy infrastructure includes a 165 KWp solar power system. Auxiliary service lines include a university hospital offering pay-as-you-go patient care and student housing priced at ₱200-450 per month.

VSU's revenue model rests primarily on Philippine national government appropriations channeled through CHED and DBM, with secondary income from heavily subsidized tuition (Graduate School ₱6,000-12,000 per unit), commercial technology transfer, hospital fees, agritourism, and externally competed research grants such as the €300,000 VLIR-UOS award for the VIVAR²es project. The institution has secured external validation through QS World University Rankings entry, improvement in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings from the 401-600 band to the 301-400 band in 2026, and a four-star rating under the Universal PASS Metrics, alongside international cooperation agreements with Ghent University, Hiroshima University, VUB, and KU Leuven. International student enrollment and active faculty exchange indicate a developing export-education dimension anchored on regional specialization rather than scale.

Name

Visayas State University

Legal name

Visayas State University

Website

https://vsu.edu.ph

Company type

Public

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Visayas State University is a Philippine public state university founded in 1924 and designated CHED Zonal University for Eastern Visayas. It operates five campuses delivering undergraduate, graduate, and now medical education, plus nine research centers and technology-transfer units serving students, farmers, and regional industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Agricultural research programs
• Technology transfer services
• University extension services
• Academic publishing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Baybay City, Leyte

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriations: VSU operates as a state university funded primarily through government appropriations under Republic Act 9158 and RA 9437. It is mandated as the Zonal Agricultural University for the Visayas region.
2. Tuition and Miscellaneous Fees: Students pay tuition and various fees for enrollment including ID lanyard (Php 55), USSC membership (Php 100 per academic year), dormitory fees, and other enrollment-related charges.
3. Technology Transfer and Processing Services: Revenue generated from processing facilities serving MSMEs, technology transfer programs, and product development support through NCRC and PhilRootcrops. Coconut processing facility serves micro, small, and medium enterprises.
4. Research Grants: VSU receives competitive research grants from international organizations including VLIR-UOS (€300,000 for VIVAR²es project), DTI-SSF projects, DOST partnerships, and various international development agencies.
5. Commercial Space Lease: VSU's Business & Resource Generation Office (BaRGO) leases commercial spaces to generate additional revenue.
6. Technology Products Sales: TechnoMart sells various technology products developed by research centers including cassava-based food products (cookies, brownies, macaroons, chips), banana products, jackfruit snacks, taro wine, coconut products, and oyster mushrooms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Visayas State University is a public state university in the Philippines offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across agriculture, engineering, sciences, education, and other disciplines across five campuses. It operates nine specialized research and training centers (including PhilRootcrops, NARC, NCRC-Visayas, RCCRDC, and the GRID Center) that conduct research in tropical agriculture, climate change, disaster resilience, and food product development. The university also delivers technology transfer and processing services to micro, small, and medium enterprises, runs a university hospital and student housing services, and publishes peer-reviewed academic journals.

Product overview

Visayas State University operates as a comprehensive state university with a multi-platform educational service portfolio. The core offerings include the VSUCAT admission test system (delivered via Moodle), the my.VSU student portal, e-learning platform, and Graduate School programs. Supporting infrastructure includes VSU Hospital, Document Request System, Helpdesk, and Library Learning Commons. VSU also operates TechnoMart as a technology business incubator for research products, and publishes three academic journals (Annals of Tropical Research, Science and Humanities Journal, and RESERDS). The university system spans the main Baybay campus plus four satellite campuses (Alangalang, Isabel, Tolosa, Villaba) and offers residential housing services across multiple dormitories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked 301-400 globally in 2026 THE Impact Rankings, second among Philippine universities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, moderate and minor.

• Ghent University (UGent), BelgiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2026Seven-year Student/Staff Exchange Agreement (AY 2027-2028 to 2033-2034) with Ghent University's Faculty of Bioscience Engineering. Up to 2 undergraduate/graduate students per year from each institution. VSU students may participate in study, internship, or research connected to graduate thesis. Credits and tuition fees waived under Learning Agreement. Building on MOU since 2015, with collaboration in aquatic ecosystem ecology, environmental assessment, biodiversity conservation, and mangrove ecosystems.
• Hiroshima University, JapancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 202615-year partnership upgraded to inter-university cooperation agreement covering all academic and non-academic units. Covers joint research, faculty/staff exchange, undergraduate/graduate student exchange, research publications, and academic information exchange. College of Medicine exchange with Hiroshima University's School of Medicine in development. Partnership began in 2011; HU raised funds for VSU after Typhoon Yolanda (2013); awarded Sandigan Bayan Award in 2024.
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), BelgiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaborating on VIVAR²es project led by VSU GRID Center. Expert Dr. Matthieu Kervyn (VUB) specializing in geomorphology, geohazards, and risk assessment. Project examining ridge-to-reef approach for disaster resilience. Part of VLIR-UOS TEAM Programme with €300,000 funding.
• KU Leuven, BelgiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in VIVAR²es project with expert Costanza Parra specializing in political ecology and risk governance. Collaboration under VLIR-UOS TEAM 2026 Programme.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations agency partnership for food security, agricultural development, and sustainable resource management initiatives.
• Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian government agency supporting agricultural research partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbHmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency providing technical cooperation and sustainable development expertise. Previously known as GTZ.
• Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional center supporting graduate education and research in agriculture across Southeast Asia.
• International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research organization focused on aquatic resources management and sustainable fisheries development.
• International Center for Tropical Agriculture - Asia RegionmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGIAR research center with Asia Regional Office in Hanoi, Vietnam, focused on tropical agriculture research.
• Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto UniversitymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with prestigious Japanese university for Southeast Asian research and scholarly exchange.
• Yale UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Yale University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies for academic and research collaboration in environmental science.
• University of ArkansasmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS university partnership for academic exchange and agricultural research collaboration.
• University of PlymouthmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership for academic and research collaboration.
• OXFAMmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational confederation of organizations working to alleviate poverty through development and humanitarian programs.
• Chiba University, JapanmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university partnership through Graduate School of Horticulture for academic exchange.
• Khon Kaen University, ThailandmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerThai university partnership through Faculty of Agriculture and Science Education Association for regional collaboration.
• Mendel University, Czech RepublicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzech university partnership for academic and research exchange.
• Masaryk University, Czech RepublicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzech university partnership for academic collaboration.
• Nicolaus Copernicus UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish university partnership for academic and research exchange.
• Novia University of Applied Sciences, FinlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish university partnership for applied sciences collaboration.
• Universitas Gadjah Mada, IndonesiamoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndonesian university partnership for regional academic collaboration.
• Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, IndonesiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndonesian technology institute partnership for engineering and technical collaboration.
• Mila University, MalaysiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalaysian university partnership for regional academic exchange.
• Düzce University, TurkeyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkish university partnership for academic collaboration.
• Istanbul Okan University, TurkeyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkish university partnership for academic exchange.
• EU Erasmus Mundus ProgrammemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union mobility programme supporting academic exchange between Europe and Asia through AREAS and EXPERTS projects.
• US Peace CorpsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS government volunteer program partnership for community development and educational initiatives.
• Department of Science and Technology (DOST)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilippine government agency partnership for science and technology research, including National Science Consortium and Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development.
• Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilippine government agency providing Shared Service Facilities (SSF) Project funding for coconut processing facility expansion.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Central Luzon State University: Third Zonal Agricultural University of the Philippines (serving Luzon) and the most direct functional peer to VSU. Operates as a public SUC with a Center of Excellence in Agriculture, comparable research centers, and parallel agricultural technology transfer mandate.
• Benguet State University: Cordillera-region SUC with comparable agriculture, forestry, and highland-crop research focus (vegetables, fruits, cut flowers). Similar profile to VSU in terms of being a CHED-recognized SUC with a regional agricultural mandate and applied research centers.
• Central Mindanao University: Fellow Zonal Agricultural University (ZAU) of the Philippines, mandated to serve Mindanao in the same way VSU serves the Visayas. Comparable multi-campus state agricultural university with similar regulatory position, research center portfolio, and SUC funding model.
• Cavite State University: Philippine SUC with comparable multi-campus structure, agricultural research centers, and strong technology transfer activity (e.g., coffee, cacao). Similar scale and SUC funding model to VSU, serving a regional agricultural mandate in Southern Luzon.
• Universitas Gadjah Mada: Major Indonesian public comprehensive research university and named VSU partner. Comparable as a large, multi-disciplinary regional research university with strong agricultural and life-science programs, providing a benchmark for VSU's research and international partnership strategy.

Regional players

• Kasetsart University: Thailand's premier agricultural and tropical research university. Comparable as an international agricultural research university serving ASEAN, with similar tropical agriculture, fisheries, and forestry programs, providing a relevant cross-country benchmark.
• Central Philippines State University: SUC located in Western Visayas with overlapping regional agricultural and fisheries focus. Direct geographic neighbor and comparable institution in scale and SUC funding model, though positioned slightly to the west of VSU's primary catchment area.
• University of the Philippines Visayas: Regional campus of the University of the Philippines system located in Miagao, Iloilo, covering Western Visayas. Direct geographic competitor for top-tier students in the Visayas and a benchmark for public-university quality and reputation in the region.
• Silliman University: Major private university in Dumaguete (Negros Oriental) with comparable regional standing in the Visayas. While not an agricultural ZAU, Silliman competes for the same regional student pool and offers similar breadth of undergraduate and graduate programs.

Broad incumbents

• University of the Philippines Los Baños: The Philippines' premier agricultural and forestry university and the national benchmark for agricultural higher education. Larger and more established than VSU, but overlapping mandate in agriculture, forestry, and environmental research, and a key reference point for VSU's positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/visayasstateu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/visayasstateu
• Facebookfacebook.com/visayasstateu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vsu

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Visayas State University