R&D PROGRAMS 

To actualize the vision and mission of the CSU-R&D, action programs have been identified. In attaining the objective of improving R&D productivity of the university to be at par with global standards, the action programs include the following:

 

The programs are presented as follows:

 

R&D Program on Environmental Management & Eco-governance

 

RDE efforts on water shall be directed towards appropriate watershed and wetland management, effective and efficient water management, water treatment technologies and water budget studies to optimize the use of available safe water. RDE activities on the environmental and conservation, preservation and management shall focus on finding better ways of managing non-renewable natural resources (land, water, minerals, and biodiversity) for sustainable economic development. Specifically, it shall look for possible solutions to the environmental alterations resulting from climate change in order to minimize hazardous environmental effects and reduce natural and human-induced disasters/risks.

 

The Center for Research in Environmental Management and Eco-governance (CRÈME), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) are the lead conveners. The collaborators are the faculty-researchers from the: College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); Information Technology and Engineering Departments of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT); College of Education (CEd) and CSU-Cabadbaran Campus.

 

R&D Program on Mineral Resources Management & Responsible Mining

 

The R&D program shall focus on:  socio-cultural and economic aspects of mining; mining technology; geological aspects; material science and value-adding to minerals; environmental issues on mining; basic literacy for mining communities; and science and mathematics education for would-be miners. Research projects shall be directed towards finding solutions to contamination due to mining and rehabilitation of mined-out areas to benefit humankind.  Restoration of the ecosystem to support biodiversity and natural cultural heritage shall also be another focused area for research and innovation.

 

The Mineral Resources Management Research and Training Center (MinRes) will be the lead convener. The collaborators are the faculty-researchers from the: College of Engineering and Technology (CEIT), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); Natural Resources Management Department and the Agricultural Sciences Department of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR); College of Education (CEd); and CSU-Cabadbaran Campus.

 

Research Program on Sustainable Agri-Fishery & Forest Resources Management

 

The R&D program shall focus on: socio-cultural aspects of agriculture and forestry; agricultural development technology such as sustainable and organic agriculture; sustainable development of wood-based industry; environmental issues on agriculture and tree farming including the studies on conservation of agrobiodiversity; literacy for upland farming and wood-based communities; and science and mathematics education for would-be agriculturalists and foresters.  Research and innovations shall also include the use of ICT resources for smart and precision agriculture and forest management. The promotion of Good Management Practices (GMP) to promote food security and food safety shall be part of the program.

 

The Center for Agricultural Research and Entrepreneurship (CARE) and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) is the lead convener.  The collaborators are the faculty-researchers from the: College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); Information Technology and Engineering Department of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT); College of Education (CEd); and CSU-Cabadbaran Campus.

R&D on Food Innovation and Packaging

 

The R&D program will center on development of new products, utilization of lesser-known food sources into marketable products, value adding of traditional foods and food safety.  Studies on primary and secondary post-harvest handling and development of postharvest technologies, packaging for food safety and for marketing will also be among the focus under this program.

 

The Food and Innovation Center (FIC), Faculty of Food and Beverage Department of CSUCC and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) are the lead conveners. The collaborators are the faculty-researchers from the: College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); Information Technology and Engineering Departments of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT); College of Education (CEd) and other Colleges of CSU-Cabadbaran Campus;.

 

R&D Program on Spatial Information and Geo-informatics

 

The R&D program will focus on cutting edge technology in image processing, digital photogrammetry, remote sensing, satellite-based global positioning, geographic information systems, LiDAR-based mapping, surveying and digital mapping. Geo-informatics will involve work in land development, construction surveying, hydrographic surveying and spatial data analysis.  The R&D program will also include design, development and operation of systems for mapping information about the land, the oceans, natural resources and manmade features. The outputs will be an important input in environmental management planning, investment planning, disaster risk reduction planning, and strategic agriculture and forestry development planning among others.

 

The Center for Geo-informatics and the Geodetic Engineering Program will be the lead conveners. The collaborators are the faculty-researchers from the: College of Engineering and Technology (CEIT), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR); College of Education (CEd); CSU-Cabadbaran Campus.

 

Research and Innovation Program on ICT-Enabled Regional Development

 

Information and communication technologies (ICT) change the way government and non-government entities conduct transactions, delivering public service and making innovation available and accessible.  Recently, the global community is promoting the Smart City. A smart city (also smarter city) uses information and communication technologies (ICT) to enhance quality and performance of urban services, to reduce costs and resource consumption, and to engage more effectively and actively with its citizens (World Bank, 2015). Through ICT, the connectivity has brought market information, financial services, health services and other needed information to remote areas to support local development to change people’s lives and revolutionize management of projects and local resources for development.

 

The Information and Communication Technology Center (ICT Center) and Information Technology Program shall be the lead conveners. The collaborators are the faculty-researchers from the: College of Engineering and Technology (CEIT), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR); College of Education (CEd); and CSU-Cabadbaran Campus.

 

Research and Development Program for Renewable Energy and Alternative Technologies

 

The RDE projects will focus on the development of new energy sources from renewable energy such as solar energy and from wastes of animals and biomass for green energy.  This will also find ways to develop strategies and methodologies to use lesser-known plant and animal species for production and utilization of alternative clean and environment-friendly fuels. Using recent technologies, efficient use of available energy shall also be a target to maximize energy utilization.

 

The Center of Renewable Energy and Alternative Technologies (CREATE) and the Agricultural Engineering and Electrical and Electronics Engineering Programs shall be the lead conveners. The collaborators are the faculty-researchers from the: College of Engineering and Technology (CEIT), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR); College of Education (CEd); and CSU-Cabadbaran Campus.

 

Research Program on Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Development

 

The R&D program shall focus on: development of mathematical theories; socio-cultural aspects of mathematics appreciation; science and mathematics teaching strategies; social, ecological and economic applications of mathematics and statistics; modelling to predict future phenomena in agriculture, wood-based industries, mining industry and ecotourism; and mathematical applications to ICT and Engineering.

 

The Mathematical and Statistical Computing Center (MSCC) and the Mathematics Department of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the Mathematics Education Program of the College of Education (CEd) are the lead conveners. The collaborators are the faculty-researchers/extension workers from the: College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT); College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR); and CSU-Cabadbaran Campus.

 

Research Program for Peace and Countryside Development

 

The R&D program shall focus on: conflict resolution and just dealing with the various sectors of society; development support to various ethnic groups and disadvantaged groups in Caraga Region; observance of values, traditions, practices, mores among various sectors for sustainable rural development; development of education strategies for skills enhancement and livelihood program.

 

The Social and Languages Department of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is the co-convener. The collaborators are the faculty-researchers from the: College of Education (CEd), College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT); College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR); and CSU-Cabadbaran Campus.

 

Research Program for Regional Human Capital Development

 

The R&D program shall focus on: socio-cultural studies of various ethnic groups and disadvantaged groups in Caraga Region; nurturing of appropriate values, traditions, practices, mores, etc for sustainable rural development; ecological and economic implications of indigenous knowledge system (IKS); development of education strategies and pedagogy for basic and functional literacy; and skills enhancement program. It shall also focus on developing instructional materials for in-school and out-of-school learning; and education towards disaster preparedness and emergency response in times of calamity.

 

The College of Education (CEd) is the lead convener. The Social and Languages Department of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is the co-convener. The collaborators are the faculty-researchers from the: College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT); College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR); and CSU-Cabadbaran Campus.

 

STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE AGENDA

 

1. Capacitate faculty-researchers to attract external funding or research grants for excellent research facilities and outputs

 

Tap scholarship opportunities from national and international sponsors to build/enhance capabilities among faculty and other personnel doing R&D activities.  The R&D Office and the Scholarship Committee shall work closely to determine the gaps in human resource capability to prioritize the specialized fields which are wanting.

Collaboration can play a key role in the capability building of qualified personnel, for example through the co-supervision of Ph.D. students from other countries. The cost of research, especially in disciplines requiring specialized instrumentation or facilities, tend to make collaboration an imperative. Partnership with international institutes in the form of joint research projects, allow sharing of research facilities and major infrastructure, allowing access to research data and discoveries, and the linking of research centers and virtual networks.  Issues, such as climate change transcends national borders and demand international collaboration which can enrich the capability of the University faculty-researchers.

 

2. Establish Research Institutes/Centers in Caraga Region

 

In the R&D arena, the principle “No man is an island” shall be adopted. Thus research teams will be created to work together in 1 program. This will be facilitated by establishing Research Centers.  By creating Research Centers, R&D teams will be learning from one another and collaborations can improve R&D productivity. The team approach in R&D activities may encourage newcomers to engage in research while allowing the old researchers to learn new techniques and methods from the new ones, especially those who just graduated from their MS and Ph.D. degrees.  This strategy is also aimed to encourage maximum participation in R&D activities to keep the Research Culture aflame.

For RDE activities to respond to problems and technological and/or information needs of society, a multi-disciplinary research shall be adopted. This approach minimizes the span of time required to address multi-faceted problems, while optimizing the budget to carry out R&D activities.

 

3. Sustain the enthusiasm of faculty-researchers in R&D

 

Researchers require a place and scientific tools to do some critical thinking and apply the ideas using some tools.  Equipped research laboratories connected to the Internet shall be provided to give researchers an atmosphere where they could think critically and act logically. Researchers shall be accorded 'flexi-time' to give them freedom to work in times when the mind is active and full of bright ideas. 

To sustain the enthusiasm of the faculty-researchers, provision of incentives and support in terms of travel grants to attend and/or present papers in scientific fora/gatherings, publication support and time release to efficiently work on their research through teaching load reduction.

 

4. Provide efficient and effective administrative support for research productivity enhancement

 

Hiring of faculty members shall also give emphasis on the research background and/or potential of the applicants for research and innovation. Hiring of personnel who have some backgrounds in research from universities and research institutions recognized for their prolific research and development outputs can greatly expand the researchers’ pool in CSU.

Support the endeavors and efforts of researchers to keep their interests in RDE ablaze.  This can be in the form of facilitating procurement of supplies and materials, equipment and other important inputs in the conduct of the RDE activities. 

 

ETHICAL STANDARDS IN R&D

 

For CSU R&D to be recognized in the science community, basic ethical standards shall be adopted in the conduct of R&D programs and activities.  The following areas shall be given emphasis:

 

A.  Research outputs protected by Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) laws

 

The university shall protect the rights of its research and innovation workers through ensuring that all projects shall be subjected to assessment by Intellectual and Technology Support Office (ITSO) for possible patentable outputs.  The Intellectual Property Policy, approved by the Board of Regents (BOR), shall provide protection to any R&D output of the faculty-researchers. The IP Policy has been disseminated to the different colleges and copies of the same IP Policies were provided to the colleges as reference of the faculty-researchers and other staff such that transactions related to IP applications shall be facilitated. The Intellectual and Technology Support Office (ITSO) shall facilitate the application of IPR of the faculty-researchers utilizing the forms provided by TDTLO and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) for all applications (Patent, Copyright, Trademark, and Industrial Design).

Prior to technical paper presentation, the researchers have to determine with the help of TDTLO, if there are patentable subject matter in the technology produced out of their researches before its publication. Patents and other forms of protection from the research outputs shall be determined at the start of the negotiations and shall be defined in the Memorandum of Agreement/Understanding/ Cooperation

 

B.  Mechanism to prevent plagiarism and other R&D malpractices

 

Periodic seminar-workshops shall be conducted to educate researchers (both faculty and students) on research ethics.  Researchers shall be made aware on plagiarism and other common malpractices such as fabrication of data and the corresponding penalty for persons committing these malpractices. Regular M& E shall also be conducted to ensure that ethical standards in the conduct of research are observed.

 

C.  Other provisions for ethical conduct of research, development and innovation

 

The university shall abide by the Intellectual Property (IP) Policy approved by its Board of Regents (BOR).  The Policy stipulates the ethical standards in dealing with partnerships and collaborations, consultancies, and other aspects of joint research and innovation.  It likewise specifies the ownership of products, patents and other outputs of research and innovations following the ethics of equitable sharing among entities involved in the generation of such outputs.