Republic of the Philippines NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Cabanatuan City

GRADUATE SCHOOL

PAGE III Assembly, Seminar and Paper Presentation 2012

Date : Venue : Sponsor : Theme : April 28, 2012 University of the Assumption Philippine Association for Graduate Education (PAGE) Region III Modalities in Disseminating & Utilizing Research Outputs, & Funding Research Projects

The Philippine Association for Graduate Education Region III (PAGE III) Assembly, Seminar and Paper Presentations 2012 successfully held last April 28, 2012 at the University of the Assumption, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. With this years main theme Dissemination and Utilization of Research Outputs, the annual assembly featured two distinguished speakers: CHED Region III Director Virginia D. Akiate, Ed.D., CESO VI who gave her Keynote Address and DOST Region III Director, Victor B. Mariano, D.B.A. who lectured on Modalities in Disseminating and Utilizing Research Outputs, and Funding Research Projects and shared his insights on various research projects being undertaken by different Higher Education Institutions in the Region. The objectives of the annual assembly were the following: 1. Update participants with the regional research thrusts; 2. Provide useful information on effective modalities/strategies in disseminating and utilizing research outputs 3. Provide a venue for the dissemination of graduate students research outputs. Highlights on Dr. Virginia D. Akiates keynote speech are as follows: For some, higher education research is described in many ways as repetitive and stereotyped, heavily biased in the field of education and allied areas, the sciences being relegated to a lower priority. Dr. Akiate identified the following problems involving research: 1. Inadequate funds to finance research projects; 2. Lack of competence of the faculty to undertake either basic or applied research; 3. Lack of management support to provide manpower, facilities, and other resources for the research activities; and 4. Inability of the institution to disseminate and utilize research funds for educational development.

Same problems were also noted by CHED Chairperson Patricia B. Licuanan during the Research Symposium for the 13th Anniversary of the Commission on Higher Education. She cited that even research data are available, the absence of a research environment prevents research findings from being appreciated and utilized. Other problems cited were: 1. Inadequacy of the support system needed by the graduate students and faculty in terms of time off, sabbatical leave for full-time research purposes; 2. Lack of funds 3. Teaching loads of faculty (24 units), graduate faculty go from one university to another as part time lecturers and students who come to class after office hours, Saturdays and Sundays when most of the laboratories and libraries are closed. 4. Lack of coherent research program in our respective institutions. There have been cases where funds were available but there were few or no takers to utilize these funds. Given these problems, Dr. Licuanan captured the following in order to create a culture of research: 1. Shift to new vision or refocusing research; 2. Set up priorities to optimize allocation of meager resources; 3. Examine the trilogy of functions of higher education. A strong culture of research calls for a set of values or ideals, practices and traditions necessary to achieve high levels of research and extension productivity. It includes the commitment to upgrade the quantity and quality of research outputs and translate these into practical results to influence gross human products coupled with the acquisition of needed skills and training among research practitioners. Strong effective and collective efforts from HEIs and CHED are needed in order to realize this undertaking. It is in this light that CHED created 10 year National Higher Education Research Agenda (NHERA), this is in part of its research mandate by virtue of RA 7722. (Higher Education Act of 1994 An Act Creating Commission on Higher Education). The NHERA embodies the policies, priorities and funding assistance to be adopted and availed of by the HEIs in the promotion of high quality research in the country. The following are the different technical and financial programs of CHED under NHERA: 1. Thesis and Dissertation grants This aimed at upgrading the research manpower capability of HEIs while supporting the conduct of research in CHED priority disciplines. Without Laboratory P40,000 50,000 With Laboratory 60,000 70,000

Thesis Dissertation

2. Grants-in-aid This can be afforded to both public and private HEIs with research proposal endorsed by the CHED ZRCs and approved by CHED for funding. 3. Commissioned research This refers to the funds made available for the conduct of studies with topics/issues/problems which CHED deems important for the pursuit of its mandates and generates data and information as inputs to policies, plans and decisions of the Commission. 4. Visiting research fellowship This serves as mechanism for sharing/transferring research knowledge among HEIs and between research experts and developing researches. The grant is open to senior and junior categories for permanent faculty/researchers occupying permanent positions in government agencies. It is also open to Ph.D. candidate who are full time faculty with permanent status in the HEI. Senior Fellowship Travel allowance of P12,000 for 10 months for the duration of the fellowship Stipend of P10,000 per month x 10 Research grant of P200,000 for research with lab of P175,000 for research without lab. Junior Fellowship Travel allowance of P12,000 for 10 months for the duration of the fellowship Stipend of P10,000 per month x 10 Research grant of P150,000 for research with lab or P100,000 for research without lab.

5. CHED Republica This is offered every two years to recognize and reward outstanding research outputs that contribute to the discovery of new knowledge, development or generation of concepts which propel significant advances in CHED priority disciplines. The award include trophy, cash prize of P50,000 for Regional winners; trophy plus P150,000 for the National winners plus P150,000 research awards and for any or combination of the following: in country lecture or paper presentation in national/international conference; and conduct of research. 6. Best HEIs research programs This award in intended to re-organize both, author(s), implementor(s) and the HEI for the research program that has contributed most to the clusters of discipline(s). Since HEIs play important role in developing and nurturing a research culture among the faculty and staff, they should be encouraged to conduct research and other scholarly investigations in the various academic disciplines.

Awards Category National Winners Regional Winners 1st Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize

Prize Trophy, P1M cash Plaque, P300,000 Plaque, P200,000 Plaque, P100,000

7. Support for papers presentations in international conferences This is a financial assistance to enable local researchers to present/disseminate/showcase their scholarly works in international conferences and gain international recognition and at the same time expose them to latest development in their fields of specialization. Regional and international conferences expose Filipino researchers in the field of new technologies or advances in the discipline that may be applicable to Philippine setting. The financial package is divided into: Pre-departure expenses of $100 DSA of $100/day plus 1 day Registration fee not to exceed $300 Airfare not to exceed $1,500

The bottom line is theres more to do to develop and enhance higher education research. Everyone is encouraged to keep the passion for research alive and to work together towards creating relevant and strong research culture in higher education.

NOTES TAKEN FROM THE MESSAGE OF DR. VICTOR B. MARIANO, DIRECTOR -DOST RO-III Dr. Mariano started by commenting that many of the serious researches being made nowadays are ending up as shelf researches because they were made just to comply with the requirements of the researchers Masters or Doctoral programs. He then cited two major reasons why these researches are not being utilized o The first reason is that these researches are not demand-driven i.e. they are not anticipated or expected by society. He used pure science researches as an example, specifically the researches made about quartz which are supposed to be something which are smaller than atoms. He stated that these kinds of researches have no practical application. o The second reason is the lack of adequate funding to put these researches to commercial use or application.

 He mentioned that the Department of Science & Technology (DOST) only offers funding for researches made that are in line with its priority. He then proceeded to enumerate these priorities. o o Food Security examples given are researches on better yielding varieties of rice/better absorption of nutrients or fertilizers Energy Development - examples cited are researches on solar panels and nano technology. He also cited the NEUSTs mini hydro electric power plant in Gabaldon and even added that the next step for this project is for NEUST to be able to manufacture the parts so it can be made on a larger scale. Local Drug Development example given is the Lagundi cough syrup which was developed in cooperation with DOST. Nutrition developing of functional foods. Example cited is the instant noodles with MMK (malunggay, monggo & kalabasa). Well-being of People example mentioned is research on Diagnostic Devices. Economic Development new inventions which should be demand-driven. Example mentioned is the toothpaste tube with built-in cap.

o o o o

He then stated that generally, researches made in Public Administration (PA) and Business Administration (BA) degrees do not receive funding from DOST. However he made some recommendations as to the subject matter of the researches to be made under these fields. o PA a research on the conformity of the weight of LPGs (liquefied petroleum gas) being sold in the market. Such a research he said would be beneficial to society. He further recommended confining the study on the commonly used 11 kgs. LPGs. He mentioned that should anyone make a research on this subject then DOST is ready to assist by providing a portable weighing scale, logistics support (transportation vehicle) and manpower support to help in the conduct of the research. BA a research on the Econometric Model of oil prices. He said that this would be a relevant research because of the continuous increase in the oil prices. Such study may focus on the possible determinants of oil prices.

He then mentioned the importance of being a member in various consortiums such as Central Luzon Health and Research Development Consortium (CLHRDC), Central Luzon Industry and Energy Research and Development Consortium (CLIERDEC) and Central Luzon Agriculture and Resources and Research Development Consortium (CLARRDEC) i.e., facilities from these institutions may be shared by consortium members. Finally, to emphasize the importance of seminars on research such as the one conducted by PAGE III, he recited a famous line by John F. Kennedy - Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country.