Strengthening the Research Culture of Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Fifteen years ago, the Congressional Commission on Education or more popularly known as EDCOM expressed dismay over the state of research in higher education in the Philippines. Since then, the Commission on Higher Education or CHED has formulated a blueprint through the National Higher Education Research Agenda (NHERA) for strengthening the research culture of higher education institutions not only in the Calabarzon area but also in the entire archipelago.

This 2007 Research Forum, which aims, among other things, to: first, disseminate new knowledge and discoveries in various fields of discipline; and second, provide a venue for scientific and scholarly discourse among academics and researchers, reflects what we, in the higher education sector, have collectively accomplished in nurturing research among higher education institutions (HEIs).

After more than a decade of advocacy, research expertise building and other development initiatives, the vital signs of higher education research now look promising. An increasing number of HEIs had been coming up with creditable research outputs, in trickles at first, then in appreciable numbers these last few years.

The theme of your conference, "strengthening the research culture of HEIs", is indeed a timely reminder for all of us that higher education is expected both to transmit and generate knowledge or new technology through research and to apply such knowledge and technology for enhancing productivity and improving the quality of life.