Indian entomologist Dr. Ravindra Chanda Joshi has formally committed to rejoining Central Philippines State University’s (CPSU) College of Agriculture and Forestry’s (CAF) faculty as a visiting professor—further strengthening the university’s academic roster with his extensive higher education teaching and research experience.

 Following his successful teaching engagement as a visiting professor at CPSU Graduate School’s Master of Science in Agriculture program, he will be teaching the undergraduate courses and will be part of the teaching force that will mold Cenphilians in the field of agriculture.

 The ceremonial signing of his contract with the university took place on August 5, 2026, at the CPSU-Graduate School building, in the presence of the university's key officials, headed by the Vice President for Administration and Finance, Engr. Marc Alexei Caesar B. Badajos, on behalf of the University President, Dr. Aladino C. Moraca.

 Over the recent years, Doctor Joshi has shared his expertise as a guest resource speaker for training sessions that the university organized with its partners, including “Integrated Pest Management for Rodents and Golden Kuhol Infestation Training” and “Training-Workshop and Handbook Development for Integrated Pest Management for Fall Armyworms.”

 When asked, “As an educator who will be molding undergraduate students into the agriculturists that they aspire to become, what are your aspirations for them?” Doctor Joshi replied, “That’s a very good question – I always look at how I have changed the life of some of the students. So I always look at them, I always follow them. To give you an example, you know, I have had students before at the University of the Philippines-Baguio. And I'm so amazed that many of my students have gone very far in terms of their professions. Many people ask them, what motivated you? So I was teaching a special course on invasive species, and many of my students, at least two or three of my students, are already finishing their PhDs. And at the same time, they have received a lot of recognition. They were undergraduates, but they said they felt like graduate students in my class. When you are dealing with undergraduates, you really need to guide them more often. It’s not just about giving them examinations. What’s important is to make them [realize] ‘Why are you studying this?’ and ‘How can it change your life for the better? ”

 Doctor Joshi is a Senior Consultant of the Philippine Rice Research Institute and has been a visiting professor to numerous esteemed higher education institutions in the country and has published books in entomology, including (1) Biology and Management of Invasive Apple Snails; (2) Rice Black Bugs: Taxonomy, Ecology, and Management of Invasive Species; (3) Philippine Rats: Ecology and Management; and (4) Global Advances in Ecology and Management of Golden Apple Snails.

 CPSU Graduate School Dean Prof. Riza Stephanie A. Alfaras recounted the history of Doctor Joshi’s academic and professional engagement with the university, particularly in the Graduate School, where he taught the course Integrated Pest Management, highlighting his expertise in entomology.