Hiroshima University (HU), specifically the School of Applied Biological Science, was cited for its many productive efforts to promote academic cooperation, linkages and exchanges by one of its MOU universities. The Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Philippines unanimously voted to recognize Hiroshima University with its highest internationalization award, the Sandigan Bayan Special Award at fitting ceremonies held at the VSU campus on April 26, 2024. The award was presented by Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes, the VSU President and Dr. Dennis P. Peque, the chairperson of the Awards Committee. HU associate professor Lawrence M. Liao accepted the award on behalf of the HU President and the Dean of the School of Applied Biological Science who could not be present to accept the award. 

To recall, VSU and HU School of Applied Biological Science signed a Memorandum of Understanding in December 2011 to start academic exchanges and research collaboration. Each year, HU sends students and faculty members for the overseas educational exercise, while VSU students and researchers come to the International Summer School held each year in the Higashi-Hiroshima campus. Several VSU academic staff and alumni have either completed or are pursuing their graduate studies at HU. Some joint research symposia between researchers of the two institutions have also been conducted. HU professors have received appointments as visiting professors at VSU and sat as members of graduate student research committees. VSU, specifically its Department of Animal Science, has also received donations for the repair of laboratory buildings damaged by the super typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and numerous small laboratory and field equipment. The VSU university library also received donations of hundreds of English language books and scientific journals.

The Sandigan Bayan Award is a special recognition bestowed by VSU to any individual or institution for their outstanding efforts towards internationalization and cross-border collaboration, further contributing to the strengthening of friendship among nations.
The Georg-August-Universität in Göttingen, Germany was the first recipient of the Sandigan Bayan Award in 2011. Later, the Erasmus Mundus programme of the European Union was chosen to receive the award in 2016. During the same year, Professor John Herbohn of the University of Queensland in Australia became the first individual awardee for his academic exchange and technical development efforts. Hiroshima University became the third institutional awardee in 2024, the 100th anniversary of the founding of VSU. The name of the award SANDIGAN BAYAN AWARD can be translated into ‘Supporter of the Nation’ (Pilipino language sandigan: reliable supporter or partner – bayan: nation, country).