Home | Programs | Research Programs | Research Agenda

RESEARCH FRAMEWORK

The University of Regina Carmeli is envisioned to be a center for excellence – a lead institution in the delivery of effective Instruction, relevant development programs, and functional extension services.

Research is viewed to play a vital role in the effective delivery of the trilogical functions of the University as a higher education institution. The important role of research is depicted in Figure 2. Where before the institution is relegated wholly to the task of teaching, that is disseminating knowledge and information (Instruction), now that it has become a University, it has broadened its perspective by way of engaging more actively in stimulating active learning, critical creative thinking (Research); in finding ways and means on how knowledge can be responsibly applied to the larger community; as well as the considerations of the economics of contribution of education to the growth of individuals and communities (Extension).

The University supports CHED’s four major thrusts of quality and excellence, relevance and responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness, and access and equity. These are reflected in the conduct of researches that yield cultural, social, economic, and political benefits to people and society.

The Role of Research

STRATEGIES

To build the University’s competitive strengths, the following strategies shall be adopted:

1. Establishment of University Research Investment Program – This program shall be aimed principally at building the human resource (i.e., research expertise) and capital infrastructure for university research (e.g., major research equipment, laboratories). The funding for this program shall be provided by the University through a sustained University Research Investment Fund. This Investment Fund shall also provide strong incentives for faculty to work together in inter-university research partnerships or collaboration.



2. Establishment of Business and Industry Research Program – This program aims at nurturing basic and applied research of importance to Bulacan’s (and Region III’s) economic growth (i.e., research that will have a direct impact on the economy of Bulacan and Region III such as advanced scientific and technological research). The funding for this program shall be established by the University (through endowments, grants, sponsorships). The funds shall be used, for example, to: encourage collaborative research which address questions from multi-disciplinary perspectives; stimulate a research environment within the university community that enhances the quality of faculty scholarships, graduate and undergraduate education; invest in the work of productive scholars or pilot projects; and attract the highest quality, and most productive researchers to the University.



3. Researchers/Scholars Exchange Program – This program shall be the key University approach to find and bring the most productive researchers/scholars to the University; and along with them, their expertise, connections, and research funding.
   

PRIORITY RESEARCH AREAS

TYPES OF RESEARCH UNDERTAKINGS

The following types of research undertakings shall be adopted:

• Basic Research is a systematic study conducted with the objective of gaining fuller knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspect of observable facts without specific applications toward processes or product in mind.
• Applied Research is a systematic study conducted with the objective of gaining knowledge or understanding necessary for determining the means by which a recognized and specific need may be met.
• Scholarly and Creative Activities are those investigations into fundamental knowledge normally found within such disciplines as the arts and humanities.
• Development Work is the systematic use of knowledge or understanding gained from research which is directed toward the production of materials, devices, systems or methods, including the design and development of prototypes and processes.

THE UNIVERSITY’S IMPLEMENTING UNITS

The University’s programs for research shall be implemented by the following units:

• The Research Development & Extension Office – This unit takes care primarily of institutional and commissioned researches covering the areas of instruction, extension, policy studies, industry researches and other types of community studies.
• The Graduate School – This unit shall be primarily responsible for basic research. The faculty and students shall be the principal researchers and investigators for this undertaking. Researchers/Scholars under the university exchange program shall undertake research activities, independently or in partnership/collaboration with the faculty and students.
• The Colleges and Departments of the University – These units shall be primarily responsible for applied research through their respective faculty and students and/or researchers/scholars under the university’s exchange Program. Scholarly and creative activities shall equally be undertaken by these units.
• Barasoain Center for Innovative Education – This unit shall be responsible for undertaking applied research and development work. Basic research that need to be undertaken shall be conducted in collaboration with the Graduate School. The research activities that will be pursued by this unit shall be aimed at improving alternatives opportunities of learners to education and incomes, and continuously enhancing the direct linkages of education and the world of work through making education optimally responsive and relevant to the needs of the productive sectors of both the province’s and the region’s economy.

STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS

Policy – Orientation. Guided by the institutional research agenda, the Research and Development Office shall conduct studies with policy implications across the various higher education disciplines.

Participation and Board Impact. Researches should involved the participation of as many stakeholders as possible and should have impact on students, faculty, non-teaching personnel, in particular, and the university in general.

Multidisciplinary. Researches involving the expertise of researchers in general discipline are encouraged. The collegial efforts of the members of the academic community to identify issues and problems would be crucial in the formulation of interventions.

Collaborative Studies. To enhance the development of a university research culture and at the same time generate funding to support research in specified areas, the university shall collaborate with government, non-government, and the other research funding agencies block grants, grants-in-aid and grants for commissioned research.

STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS

1. Build-up of data base and institutional ability to collect, process, store and retrieve data.
2. Build-up of relevant local and foreign literature.
3. Continuous training of skilled researches and support staff.
4. Build-up and strengthening of research facilities and equipment including research laboratories.
5. Development and implementation of division of labor and responsibility for, partnership or collaboration in undertaking various kinds of parts of research between and among the University’s research implementing units, faculty and students, and external agencies.
6. Development and strengthening of a network of communicating and diffusing research results among researchers, higher education institutions, levels of bureaucracy, and performance stakeholders.
7. Development and institutionalization of the University’s quality assurance mechanism to insure quality performance of research.
8. Development and implementation of research-based undergraduate program where the faculty and students will collaborate to undertake research projects aimed at better understanding of the trade or areas of discipline where the students are seeking mastery and/or specialization.
9. Identification of sources of funds and grants for University researches.
10. Extension of research assistance to University constituents and outside government and non-government organizations.
11. Supervision of the operation of the URC Night High School.
12. Development and conduct of extension services to deserving communities in the Bulacan province.
13. Maintenance of linkage with the URC Alumni to continuously elicit their support of University development and community outreach projects.
14. Build up of University image locally and internationally.
15. Identification of human resource development programs to ensure the University of professional and skilled pool of collaborators for the institution ’s progress and competitiveness.
16. Keeping the University abreast of new developments in instruction, research, and extension.