Mandates, Vision & Mission

1. Relevant and quality tertiary education ensured to achieve inclusive growth and access of poor but deserving student to quality tertiary education increased.

2. Higher education research improved to promote economic productivity and innovation.

3. Community Engagement Increase.

1. To provide programs of instruction and professional trainings primarily in the fields of science and technology, especially in agriculture and industrial fields.

2. To promote advanced studies, research, and extension services and progressive leadership in all fields of agriculture, including agribusiness, foods and nutrition, fishery, forestry, animal and veterinary sciences, engineering, industrial education, and other courses needed in the socio-economic development of Mindanao.

3. To develop courses at the graduate level responsive to the manpower needs of development-oriented agencies in the region.

4. To provide non-formal education and undertake various extension programs in food production, nutrition, trades and industries, engineering, health and sports development, and to offer scholarships and/or part time job opportunities to the socio-economically deprived but deserving students.

Instruction is offered for tertiary and advanced education levels which offer a variety of courses and fields of specialization.

Research activities are mostly carried out by its research arms: the University of Southern Mindanao Agricultural Research Center (USMARC), a national research center for corn, sorghum and fruit crops; the Philippine Industrial Crop Research Institute (PICRI), a national research institute for rubber, fiber crops, coffee, spices, cacao, and other industrial crops. Attached to PICRI is the Philippine Rubber Testing Center (PRTC), a testing center for dried natural rubber. USM also hosts two organized bodies which do research and development activities: the Cotabato Agricultural and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CARRDEC), a research consortium of various agencies in Central Mindanao and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), a member of the national PCC network.

The University’s resource generation program generates a sizeable income to augment the operating fund of the University and to serve as laboratory for horticulture, animal science, agronomy, and agribusiness majors.

Extension takes the form of training on various subject areas for different groups mostly of farmers, technical assistance to various sectors, social laboratory projects, demonstration farms, consultancy services and public education through personal contacts and the mass media: radio, print, and media.